U.S. patent application number 14/358669 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for method for the diagnosis of niemann-pick disease.
The applicant listed for this patent is Centogene AG, Pharm-analyt Labor GmbH. Invention is credited to Hermann Mascher, Arndt Rolfs.
Application Number | 20140309140 14/358669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47221301 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140309140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rolfs; Arndt ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF NIEMANN-PICK DISEASE
Abstract
The present invention is related to a method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject comprising a step a), wherein the
step a) comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from the
subject.
Inventors: |
Rolfs; Arndt; (Berlin,
DE) ; Mascher; Hermann; (Traiskirchen, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Centogene AG
Pharm-analyt Labor GmbH |
Rostock
Baden |
|
DE
AT |
|
|
Family ID: |
47221301 |
Appl. No.: |
14/358669 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
November 15, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/004756 |
371 Date: |
May 15, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
506/9 ; 250/281;
250/282; 435/6.11; 436/501 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2800/52 20130101;
G01N 33/53 20130101; G01N 30/7233 20130101; G01N 2800/04 20130101;
C12Q 1/6883 20130101; G01N 33/92 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
506/9 ; 436/501;
435/6.11; 250/282; 250/281 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/53 20060101
G01N033/53; G01N 30/72 20060101 G01N030/72; C12Q 1/68 20060101
C12Q001/68 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2011 |
EP |
11009062.8 |
Claims
1. A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
comprising detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining
a level of the biomarker present in the sample.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the level of the
biomarker is indicative of whether or not the subject is suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease or whether or not the subject is at risk
of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
4.-10. (canceled)
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomarker is
selected from the group consisting of free lyso-sphingomyelin and
compound 509.
12.-13. (canceled)
14. The method according to claim 2, further comprising detecting
at least one additional biomarker in the sample from the
subject.
15.-31. (canceled)
32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising i) adding
an internal standard to a sample from the subject, wherein the
sample from the subject is selected from the group consisting of
plasma, serum and blood; ii) optionally mixing the sample
containing the internal standard; iii) subjecting the sample to a
protein precipitation step, wherein protein from the sample is
precipitated and a first supernatant of the sample is provided; iv)
optionally subjecting the first supernatant of the sample or at
least a part thereof to a first separation step which provides a
second supernatant, optionally wherein the first separation step is
a step of centrifugation; v) subjecting the first supernatant
and/or the second supernatant, or at least a part thereof, to a
second separation step, wherein the second separation step
comprises injecting at least a part of the first supernatant and/or
at least a part of the second supernatant into an HPLC-MS/MS system
and using an HPLC column with a gradient from acidic water to
acetonitrile/acetone; wherein the HPLC column is an HPLC column
selected from the group consisting of a C8 HPLC column and a C 18
HPLC column, and wherein the second separation step provides a
separated sample; and vi) subjecting the separated sample to MS/MS,
wherein MS/MS comprises electrospray ionization and Multiple
Reacting Monitoring.
33.-36. (canceled)
37. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining a level of the biomarker present in the sample and a
level of the at least one additional biomarker present in the
sample; and determining the ratio of the level of the at least one
additional biomarker to the level of the biomarker; wherein if the
level of the at least one additional biomarker is lower than or as
high as 0.031 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is not
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease; wherein if the level of the at
least one additional biomarker is higher than 0.031 ng/ml this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
wherein if the level of the at least one additional biomarker is
higher than 0.031 ng/ml and is lower than or as high as 1.7 ng/ml
this is indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease type C carrier; and wherein if the level of the at least
one additional biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease
selected from the group consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A
and/or B and Niemann-Pick disease type C; and wherein if the level
of the at least one additional biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml
and the ratio of the level of the at least one additional biomarker
to the level of the biomarker is higher than 0.045 this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease
type A and B; and wherein if the level of the at least one
additional biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml and the ratio of the
level of the at least one additional biomarker to the level of the
biomarker is lower than or as high as 0.045 this is indicative that
the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C; and
wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin; and wherein the
at least one additional biomarker is compound 509.
38. (canceled)
39. The method according to claim 14 further comprising comparing
the level of the biomarker in the sample and/or the level of the at
least one additional biomarker in the sample and/or the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker in the sample from the subject with a cut-off
value.
40.-54. (canceled)
55. The method according to claim 39, wherein the method is for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier and wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and the cut-off value is 6.5
ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the subject is serum or
plasma.
56. The method according to claim 39, wherein the method is for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type C and wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin and the cut-off value is 9.23 ng/ml, and
wherein the sample from the subject is serum or plasma.
57. The method according to claim 39, wherein the method is for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B and wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and the cut-off value is 59
ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the subject is serum or
plasma.
58.-64. (canceled)
65. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the
course of Niemann-Pick disease in a subject comprising determining
at several points in time a level of a biomarker present in a
sample from the subject.
66.-94. (canceled)
95. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the
effectiveness of at least one treatment applied to a subject being
positively tested for suffering from or being at risk of suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease comprising detecting at several points in
time a level of a biomarker and/or of a at least one additional
biomarker present in a sample from the subject.
96.-97. (canceled)
98. The method according to claim 14, wherein the biomarker and/or
at least one additional biomarker is selected from the group
consisting of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
99.-107. (canceled)
108. The method according to claim 98, wherein the biomarker and/or
the at least one additional biomarker is detected by means of
immunoassay, mass spectrometric analysis, biochip array, functional
nucleic acids and/or a fluorescent derivative of the biomarker,
and/or a fluorescence derivative of the at least one additional
marker.
109. (canceled)
110. The method according to claim 108, wherein mass spectrometric
analysis is selected from the group consisting of SELDI, MALDI,
MALDI-Q TOF, MS/MS, TOF-TOF and ESI-O-TOF.
111.-114. (canceled)
115. The method according to claim 1, wherein Niemann-Pick disease
is selected from the group consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type
A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and Niemann-Pick disease type
C carrier.
116.-133. (canceled)
134. A kit for determining the presence of a biomarker in a sample
from a subject, wherein the kit comprises a) an interaction partner
of the biomarker; b) optionally a solid support comprising at least
one capture reagent attached thereto, wherein the capture reagent
binds the biomarker; and c) instructions for using the solid
support to detect the biomarker, wherein the biomarker is selected
from the group consisting of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound
509.
135.-150. (canceled)
151. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is
selected from the group consisting of serum and plasma.
152. A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
comprising: a) obtaining a sample comprising serum or plasma from a
subject; b) determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin in
said sample, wherein said determining is performed by a technique
selected from the group consisting of immunoassay, mass
spectrometric analysis, biochip array, functional nucleic acids
and/or a fluorescent derivative of free lyso-sphingomyelin; and c)
diagnosing the subject as having Niemann-Pick disease if the level
of free lyso-sphingomyelin in said sample meets a cut-off value
indicative of subjects having Niemann-Pick disease.
Description
[0001] The present invention is related to a method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, a method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease, Niemann-Pick disease type A and B or
Niemann-Pick disease type C in a subject, a method for determining
the course of Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, a method of
determining the effectiveness of a compound for the treatment of
Niemann-Pick disease, use of mass spectrometric analysis for the
detection of a biomarker, use of a biomarker for the diagnosis of
Niemann-Pick disease, Use of a ratio of a level of a biomarker
present in a sample from the subject to a level of an at least one
additional biomarker present in a sample from the subject for use
in a method of diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, and a kit for
determining the presence of a biomarker in a sample from a
subject.
[0002] Lysosomal storage diseases, also referred to herein as
lysosomal storage disorders or LSDs, are a group of rare inherited
metabolic disorders that result from defects in lysosomal function.
LSDs result when a specific organelle in the body's cells--the
lysosome--malfunctions. Some of the more prominent lysosomal
storage diseases are Gaucher's disease and Fabry disease.
[0003] LSDs are caused by lysosomal dysfunction usually as a
consequence of deficiency of a single enzyme required for the
metabolism of lipids, glycoproteins or so-called
mucopolysaccharides. Individually, LSDs occur with frequencies of
about 1:10,000 to 1:250,000, however, as a group the incidence is
about 1:5,000. Most of these disorders are autosomal recessively
inherited; however, a few are X-linked inherited, such as Fabry
disease and Hunter syndrome (MPS II).
[0004] Like other genetic diseases, individuals typically inherit
lysosomal storage diseases from their parents. Although each
disorder results from different gene mutations that translate into
a deficiency in enzyme activity, they all share a common
biochemical characteristic--nearly all lysosomal disorders
originate from an abnormal accumulation of substances inside the
lysosome.
[0005] Lysosomal storage diseases affect mostly children and they
often die at a young and unpredictable age, many within a few
months or years of birth. Many other children die of this disease
following years of suffering from various symptoms of their
particular disorder.
[0006] The symptoms of lysosomal storage disease vary, depending on
the particular disorder and other variables like the age of onset,
and can be mild to severe. They can include developmental delay,
movement disorders, seizures, dementia, deafness and/or blindness.
Some people with Lysosomal storage disease have enlarged livers
(hepatomegaly) and enlarged spleens (splenomegaly), pulmonary and
cardiac problems, and bones that develop abnormally.
[0007] There are no causative cures for lysosomal storage diseases
and treatment is mostly symptomatic, although bone marrow
transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) have been used
for some indications with good success. In addition, umbilical cord
blood transplantation is being performed at specialized centers for
a number of these diseases. In addition, substrate reduction
therapy (SRT), a method used to decrease the accumulation of
storage material, is currently being evaluated for some of these
diseases. Furthermore, chaperone therapy, a technique used to
stabilize the defective enzymes produced by patients, is being
examined for certain of these disorders. Gene therapy constitutes a
further option for the treatment of these diseases.
[0008] Niemann-Pick disease is a disease of a subgroup of LSDs,
called sphingolipidoses or lipid storage disorders in which harmful
quantities of fatty substances, or lipids, accumulate in the
spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and brain.
[0009] Niemann-Pick disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive
pattern, which means both copies, or alleles, of the gene must be
mutated (altered in such a way that function is impaired, in
contrast to a polymorphism, in which the nucleotide sequence is
altered but causes no functional disruption) for a person to be
affected by the disorder. Most often, the parents of a child with
an autosomal recessive disorder are not affected but are carriers
of one copy of the altered gene.
[0010] In 1961, the following classification was introduced: [0011]
Niemann-Pick disease type A: classic infantile; [0012] Niemann-Pick
disease type B: visceral; [0013] Niemann-Pick disease, type C:
subacute/juvenile; and [0014] Niemann-Pick disease type D: Nova
Scotian.
[0015] Now that the genetics are better understood, the condition
can be classified as follows: [0016] Niemann-Pick disease,
SMPD1-associated, which includes types A and B; and [0017]
Niemann-Pick disease, type C, which includes types C 1 and C2 and
Niemann-Pick disease, type D, which is caused by the same gene as
type C1.
[0018] Mutations in the SMPD1 gene cause Niemann-Pick disease types
A and B, and mutations in NPC1 and NPC2 cause Niemann-Pick disease,
type C, which is also referred to herein preferably as NPC.
[0019] Type D was originally separated from Type C to delineate a
group of patients with otherwise identical disorders who shared a
common Nova Scotian ancestry. Patients in this group are now known
to share a specific mutation in the NPC1 gene, and NPC is now used
to embrace both groups.
[0020] In the classic infantile type A variant, a missense mutation
causes complete deficiency of sphingomyelinase. Sphingomyelin is a
component of cell membrane including the organellar membrane and so
the enzyme deficiency blocks degradation of lipid, resulting in the
accumulation of sphingomyelin within lysosomes in the
macrophage-monocyte phagocyte lineage. Affected cells become
enlarged, sometimes up to 90 micrometres in diameter, secondary to
the distention of lysosomes with sphingomyelin and cholesterol.
Histology demonstrates lipid laden macrophages in the marrow, as
well as "sea-blue histiocytes" on pathology. Numerous small
vacuoles of relatively uniform size are created, imparting a foamy
appearance to the cytoplasm.
[0021] Niemann-Pick type C is a lysosomal storage disease
associated with mutations in NPC1 and NPC2 genes. Niemann-Pick Type
C strikes an estimated 1:150,000 people. Approximately 50% of cases
present before 10 years of age, but manifestations may first be
recognized as late as the sixth decade.
[0022] To date a definitive diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type
C can only be made by assaying cultured fibroblasts for cholesterol
esterification and staining for unesterified cholesterol with
filipin. The fibroblasts are grown from a small skin biopsy taken
from a patient with suspected Niemann-Pick disease type C together
with genetic confirmation. Since numerous different mutations may
be the cause of a particular lysosomal storage disease the
sequencing of the NPC1 or NPC2 genes is applied in Niemann-Pick
disease type C in order to confirm the diagnosis.
[0023] Although there are attempts to apply diagnosis methods based
on associated biochemical abnormalities there is an unmet need for
a simple biochemical test exhibiting highly specific and highly
sensitive detection of said lysosomal storage disease at an early
stage, monitoring progression of the disease and early monitoring
the efficacy of applied therapies.
[0024] Therefore, the identification of biomarkers for the early
detection and diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, Niemann-Pick
disease type A/B and/or Niemann-Pick disease type C holds great
promise to improve the clinical outcome of patients. It is
especially important for patients with vague or no symptoms or to
detect patients which fail to respond to a therapy.
[0025] A biomarker should be technically feasible in many hands,
easy to measure; useful, with a consistent, relative magnitude
between affected and controls, or treated and untreated; reliable,
and accurate clinically, and classifiable as strongly predictive or
prognostic.
[0026] Today, no biomarker for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease,
more particularly to differentially diagnose Niemann-Pick disease
type A and B, and Niemann-Pick disease type C is available.
[0027] In Gaucher's disease, another LSD, some lysosomal enzymes,
used as indirect biomarkers, were found to be elevated, including
tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, hexosaminidase, and a human
chitinase, chitotriosidase. Thus there are attempts to monitor the
reduction of storage cells in tissues by measurement of such
surrogate markers of Gaucher cells like chitotriosidase and CCL18
(C. E. Hollak et al. Marked elevation of plasma chitotriosidase
activity. A novel hallmark of Gaucher disease, J. Clin. Invest. 93
(1994) 1288-1292; R. G. Boot et al. Marked elevation of the
chemokine CCL18/PARC in Gaucher disease: a novel surrogate marker
for assessing therapeutic intervention, Blood 103 (2004) 33-39).
However, beside other disadvantages in the use of chitotriosidase
as a biomarker for Gaucher's disease, said enzyme accumulates
independent of a direct link to the pathology of Gaucher's disease.
Furthermore, up to 35% of given ethnicities demonstrate a defect of
the gene coding for chitotriosidase resulting in an artificially
reduced or unmeasurable chitotriosidase activity.
[0028] The use of primary storage molecules as biomarker was
assessed for glucosyl ceramide (Gb1) in plasma of Gaucher's disease
patients and compared to the level of Gb1 in healthy individuals
(Groener et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 January-February;
1781(1-2):72-8. Epub 2007 Dec. 5; Plasma glucosylceramide and
ceramide in type 1 Gaucher disease patients: correlations with
disease severity and response to therapeutic intervention; Groener
JE et al.). Nevertheless, although Gb1 measured in said study was
increased in plasma of said patients, said increase of Gb1 was not
prominent and thus the specificity and the sensitivity of the
method were low showing that Gb1 is not applicable as a biomarker
for Gaucher's disease.
[0029] Already in 1989 Rosengren et al. (Lysosulfatide
(galactosylsphingosine-3-O-sulfate) from metachromatic
leukodystrophy and normal human brain, Rosengren B, Fredman P,
Mansson J E, Svennerholm L.; J. Neurochem. 1989 April;
52(4):1035-41.) showed that in lipidoses not only the catabolism of
the major sphingolipid but also its lyso-compound is affected.
Nevertheless, said study concluded that the lyso-compounds do not
play a key role in the pathogenetic mechanisms in the
sphingolipidoses. Thus, said lyso-compounds might not be suitable
biomarkers for diagnosis of sphingolipidoses such as Gaucher's
disease.
[0030] It is important to note that until today no use of a highly
specific and highly sensitive biomarker and no method for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, particularly for the
differential diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type A and B,
Niemann-Pick disease type C, and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier, is available beside the methods described above that
exhibit an unsatisfactory limit of detection, sensitivity and/or
specificity and thus proved to be unsuitable for clinical
application and which methods do not allow for differential
diagnosis of different types of Niemann-Pick disease, such as
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, and Niemann-Pick disease type
C.
[0031] Accordingly, there is need for a fast, simple and more
importantly reliable method for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, particularly the differential diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B, and Niemann-Pick disease type C and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0032] In the light of the above, the problem underlying the
present invention is to provide a method for the diagnosis of
Niemann-Pick disease, particularly the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B, and Niemann-Pick disease type C and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0033] It is a further problem underlying the present invention to
provide a method for the differential diagnosis of a first group of
Niemann-Pick disease consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and
B, a second group of Niemann-Pick disease consisting of
Niemann-Pick disease type C and a third group of Niemann-Pick
disease consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0034] It is a still further problem underlying the present
invention to provide a method which allows to determine whether or
not the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C,
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B and/or from Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier or whether or not the subject is at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C, Niemann-Pick disease
type A and B and/or from Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0035] A further problem underlying the present invention is to
provide a method for determining the course and prognosis of
Niemann-Pick disease, particularly the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B, and Niemann-Pick disease type C and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0036] A still further problem underlying the present invention is
to provide a method for determining rather quickly the
effectiveness of at least one treatment applied to a subject being
positively tested for suffering from or being at risk of developing
Niemann-Pick disease, particularly Niemann-Pick disease type A and
B or Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier.
[0037] A further problem underlying the present invention is to
provide a method for determining the effectiveness of a compound
for the treatment of Niemann-Pick disease, particularly
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B and/or Niemann-Pick disease type
C and Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0038] Another problem underlying the present invention is to
provide a biomarker which allows the specific and sensitive
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, particularly specific and
sensitive diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, and
Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier.
[0039] A still further problem underlying the present invention is
a kit which comprises a compound which interacts with a biomarker
which is specific and sensitive for Niemann-Pick disease,
particularly for Niemann-Pick disease type A and B and/or
Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier.
[0040] These and other problems are solved by the subject matter of
the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments may be taken
from the attached dependent claims.
[0041] These claims are recited in the following as embodiments. It
will be acknowledged that further embodiments may result from the
disclosure of the instant specification which is insofar not
limited to the embodiments being a recitation of the claims.
Embodiment 1
[0042] A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
comprising a step a), wherein the step a) comprises detecting a
biomarker in a sample from the subject.
Embodiment 2
[0043] The method according to embodiment 1, wherein the method
comprises a step b) wherein the step b) comprises determining a
level of the biomarker present in the sample.
Embodiment 3
[0044] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 or 2,
wherein the level of the biomarker is indicative whether or not the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease or whether or not
the subject is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 4
[0045] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3,
wherein the sample from the subject is a sample from a subject who
has previously been treated for Niemann-Pick disease or a sample
from a subject who has previously been diagnosed for Niemann-Pick
disease.
Embodiment 5
[0046] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3,
wherein the sample from the subject is a sample from a subject who
has not previously been treated for Niemann-Pick disease or a
sample from a subject who has not been previously diagnosed for
Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 6
[0047] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5,
wherein the method comprises [0048] a step c), wherein the step c)
comprises applying, maintaining, reducing, elevating or not
applying a therapy based on whether the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease or is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease.
Embodiment 7
[0049] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6,
wherein the method comprises [0050] a step d), wherein the step d)
comprises detecting the biomarker in a sample from the subject
after a therapy has been applied, maintained, reduced, elevated or
not applied in step c).
Embodiment 8
[0051] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7,
wherein the method comprises [0052] a step e), wherein the step e)
comprises determining a level of the biomarker in the sample from
the subject after a therapy has been applied, maintained, reduced,
elevated or not applied in step c).
Embodiment 9
[0053] The method according to embodiment 8, wherein the method
comprises [0054] a step f), wherein the step f) comprises
determining whether the level of the biomarker determined in step
b) is lower than the level of the biomarker determined in step
e).
Embodiment 10
[0055] The method according to embodiment 9, wherein the method
comprises [0056] a step g), wherein the step g) comprises applying,
maintaining, reducing, elevating or not applying a therapy based on
step f).
Embodiment 11
[0057] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10,
wherein the biomarker is selected from the group comprising free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 12
[0058] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11,
wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 13
[0059] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11,
wherein the biomarker is compound 509.
Embodiment 14
[0060] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13,
wherein the method comprises detecting at least one additional
biomarker in a or in the sample from the subject.
Embodiment 15
[0061] The method according to embodiment 14, wherein the method
comprises determining the level of the at least one additional
biomarker in a or in the sample from the subject.
Embodiment 16
[0062] The method according to any one of embodiments 14 to 15,
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is selected from the
group comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509, and
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is different from the
biomarker.
Embodiment 17
[0063] The method according to any one of embodiments 14 to 16,
wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and wherein the at least one
additional biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 18
[0064] The method according to any one of embodiments 14 to 16,
wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and wherein the at
least one additional biomarker is compound 509.
Embodiment 19
[0065] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18,
wherein the method comprises determining the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509 in a or in the sample.
Embodiment 20
[0066] The method according to any one of embodiments 14 to 19,
preferably 17 to 19, wherein the method comprises [0067] a step h),
wherein the step h) comprises determining the ratio of the level of
the biomarker in a or in the sample to the level of the at least
one additional biomarker in a or in the sample.
Embodiment 21
[0068] The method according to embodiment 20, wherein the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker, preferably as determined in step h), is
indicative whether or not the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease or whether or not the subject is at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 22
[0069] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 21,
wherein the method comprises detecting free lyso-sphingomyelin and
compound 509 in a or in the sample.
Embodiment 23
[0070] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22,
wherein the biomarker and/or the at least one additional biomarker
is detected by means of immunoassay, mass spectrometric analysis,
biochip array, functional nucleic acids and/or a fluorescent
derivative of the biomarker and/or a fluorescent derivative of the
at least one additional biomarker.
Embodiment 24
[0071] The method according to embodiment 23, wherein the biomarker
is detected by means of mass spectrometric analysis.
Embodiment 25
[0072] The method according to embodiment 24, wherein mass
spectrometric analysis is selected from the group comprising SELDI,
MALDI, MALDI-Q TOF, MS/MS, TOF-TOF and ESI-O-TOF.
Embodiment 26
[0073] The method according to embodiment 25, wherein the mass
spectrometric analysis comprises or uses MS/MS.
Embodiment 27
[0074] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 26,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation and/or HPLC.
Embodiment 28
[0075] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 27,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation, HPLC and
MS/MS.
Embodiment 29
[0076] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 28,
wherein the subject is a human.
Embodiment 30
[0077] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 31
[0078] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 30,
wherein step d) comprises detecting the biomarker in a sample
comprises subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
precipitating protein from the sample, providing a supernatant of
the sample, subjecting the supernatant of the sample to HPLC and
MS/MS and determining the level of the biomarker and/or the at
least one additional biomarker that is/are present in the
supernatant of the sample.
Embodiment 32
[0079] A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject,
wherein the method comprises the following steps:
[0080] i) adding an internal standard to a sample from the subject,
wherein the sample from the subject is selected from the group
comprising plasma, serum and blood;
[0081] ii) optionally mixing the sample containing the internal
standard;
[0082] iii) subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
whereby protein from the sample is precipitated and a first
supernatant of the sample is provided;
[0083] iv) optionally subjecting the first supernatant of the
sample or at least a part thereof to a first separation step which
provides a second supernatant, whereby preferably the first
separation step is a step of centrifugation;
[0084] v) subjecting the first supernatant and/or the second
supernatant, or at least a part thereof, to a second separation
step, wherein the second separation step comprises injecting at
least a part of the first supernatant and/or at least a part of the
second supernatant into an HPLC-MS/MS system and using an HPLC
column with a gradient from acidic water to acetonitrile/acetone;
wherein the HPLC column is preferably an HPLC column selected from
the group comprising a C8 HPLC column and a C18 HPLC column, and
wherein the second separation step provides a separated sample;
[0085] vi) subjecting the separated sample to MS/MS, wherein MS/MS
comprises electrospray ionization and Multiple Reacting
Monitoring;
[0086] and comprising [0087] a step a), wherein the step a)
comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject,
[0088] and optionally [0089] a step b), wherein the step b)
comprises determining a level of the biomarker present in the
sample,
[0090] wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin, and
[0091] wherein the method is preferably a method according to any
one of embodiments 1 to 31;
Embodiment 33
[0092] A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject,
wherein the method comprises the following steps:
[0093] i) adding an internal standard to a sample from the subject,
wherein the sample from the subject is selected from the group
comprising plasma, serum and blood;
[0094] ii) optionally mixing the sample containing the internal
standard;
[0095] iii) subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
whereby protein from the sample is precipitated and a first
supernatant of the sample is provided;
[0096] iv) optionally subjecting the first supernatant of the
sample or at least a part thereof to a first separation step which
provides a second supernatant, whereby preferably the first
separation step is a step of centrifugation;
[0097] v) subjecting the first supernatant and/or the second
supernatant, or at least a part hereof, to a second separation
step, wherein the second separation step comprises injecting at
least a part of the first supernatant and/or at least a part of the
second supernatant into an HPLC-MS/MS system and using an HPLC
column with a gradient from acidic water to acetonitrile/acetone;
wherein the HPLC column is preferably an HPLC column selected from
the group comprising a C8 HPLC column and a C18 HPLC column, and
wherein the second separation step provides a separated sample;
[0098] vi) subjecting the separated sample to MS/MS, wherein MS/MS
comprises electrospray ionization and Multiple Reacting
Monitoring;
[0099] and comprising [0100] a step a), wherein the step a)
comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject,
[0101] and optionally [0102] a step b), wherein the step b)
comprises determining a level of the biomarker present in the
sample,
[0103] wherein the biomarker is compound 509, and
[0104] wherein the method is preferably a method according to any
one of embodiments 1 to 31.
Embodiment 34
[0105] A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject,
wherein the method comprises the following steps:
[0106] i) adding an internal standard to a sample from the subject,
wherein the sample from the subject is selected from the group
comprising plasma, serum and blood;
[0107] ii) optionally mixing the sample containing the internal
standard;
[0108] iii) subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
whereby protein from the sample is precipitated and a first
supernatant of the sample is provided;
[0109] iv) optionally subjecting the first supernatant of the
sample or at least a part thereof to a first separation step which
provides a second supernatant, whereby preferably the first
separation step is a step of centrifugation;
[0110] v) subjecting the first supernatant and/or the second
supernatant, or at least a thereof, to a second separation step,
wherein the second separation step comprises injecting at least a
part of the first supernatant and/or at least a part of the second
supernatant into an HPLC-MS/MS system and using an HPLC column with
a gradient from acidic water to acetonitrile/acetone; wherein the
HPLC column is preferably an HPLC column selected from the group
comprising a C8 HPLC column and a C18 HPLC column, and wherein the
second separation step provides a separated sample;
[0111] vi) subjecting the separated sample to MS/MS, wherein MS/MS
comprises electrospray ionization and Multiple Reacting
Monitoring;
[0112] and comprising [0113] a step a), wherein the step a)
comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject, and
detecting at least one additional biomarker in a sample from the
subject
[0114] and optionally [0115] a step b), wherein the step b)
comprises determining a level of the biomarker present in the
sample
[0116] and a level of the at least one additional biomarker present
in the sample
[0117] wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin,
[0118] wherein the at least one additional biomarker is compound
509, and
[0119] wherein the method is preferably a method according to any
one of embodiments 1 to 31.
Embodiment 35
[0120] The method according to embodiment 34, wherein the method
comprises [0121] a step c), wherein the step c) comprises
determining the ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin as determined in step b).
Embodiment 36
[0122] The method according to embodiment 35, wherein the ratio of
the level of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
is indicative of whether or not the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease or of whether or not the subject is at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 37
[0123] A method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease, Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B or Niemann-Pick disease type C in a subject,
wherein the method comprises the following steps:
[0124] i) adding an internal standard to a sample from the subject,
wherein the sample form the subject is selected from the group
comprising plasma, serum and blood;
[0125] ii) optionally mixing the sample containing the internal
standard;
[0126] iii) subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
whereby protein from the sample is precipitated and a first
supernatant of the sample is provided;
[0127] iv) optionally subjecting the first supernatant of the
sample or at least a part thereof to a first separation step which
provides a second supernatant, whereby preferably the first
separation step is a step of centrifugation;
[0128] v) subjecting the first supernatant and/or the second
supernatant, or a part thereof, to a second separation step,
wherein the second separation step comprises injecting at least a
part of the first supernatant and/or at least a part of the second
supernatant into an HPLC-MS/MS system and using an HPLC column with
a gradient form acidic water to acetonitrile/acetone; wherein the
HPLC column is preferably an HPLC column selected from the group
comprising a C8 HPLC column and a C18 HPLC column, and wherein the
second separation step provides a separated sample;
[0129] vi) subjecting the separated sample to MS/MS, wherein MS/MS
comprises electrospray ionization and Multiple Reacting
Monitoring;
[0130] and comprising [0131] a step a), wherein the step a)
comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject, and
detecting at least one additional biomarker in a sample from the
subject; and [0132] a step b), wherein the step b) comprises
determining a level of the biomarker present in the sample and a
level of the at least one additional biomarker present in the
sample; and [0133] a step c), wherein the step c) comprises
determining the ratio of the level of the at least one additional
biomarker to the level of the biomarker as determined in step
b);
[0134] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is lower than or as high as 0.031 ng/ml this is
indicative that the subject is not suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease;
[0135] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is higher than 0.031 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0136] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is higher than 0.031 ng/ml and is lower than or as high
as 1.7 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier; and
[0137] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease selected from the
group consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A or B and
Niemann-Pick disease type C; and
[0138] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml and the ratio of the level of
the at least one additional biomarker to the level of the biomarker
is higher than 0.045 this is indicative that the subject is
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type A and B; and
[0139] wherein if the level of the at least one additional
biomarker is higher than 1.7 ng/ml and the ratio of the level of
the at least one additional biomarker to the level of the biomarker
is lower than or as high as 0.045 this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C; and
[0140] wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin;
[0141] wherein the at least one additional biomarker is compound
509; and
[0142] wherein the method is preferably a method according to any
one of embodiments 1 to 31;
Embodiment 38
[0143] The method according to any one of embodiments 31 to 37,
wherein the internal standard comprises D5-fluticasone proprionate
and/or lyso-Gb2.
Embodiment 39
[0144] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 38,
wherein step b), step c) and/or step e) comprises comparing the
level of the biomarker in the sample and/or the level of the at
least one additional biomarker in the sample and/or the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker in the sample from the subject with a cut-off
value.
Embodiment 40
[0145] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 39,
preferably 39, wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample
from the subject is higher than the cut-off value this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease
or is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 41
[0146] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 39,
preferably 39, wherein if the ratio of the level of the biomarker
in the sample from the subject to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker in the sample from the subject is higher than
the cut-off value this is indicative that the subject is suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease or is at risk of suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 42
[0147] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 39,
preferably 39, wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample
from the subject is lower than the cut-off value this is indicative
that the subject is not suffering from or is not at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 43
[0148] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 39,
preferably 39, wherein if the ratio of the level of the biomarker
to the level of the at least one additional biomarker in the sample
from the subject is lower than the cut-off value this is indicative
that the subject is not suffering from or is not at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 44
[0149] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 43,
wherein the cut-off value is selected such that a or the
sensitivity for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject is
preferably from about 98.5% to 100%, more preferably 99.5% to 100%,
and/or such that a or the specificity for diagnosing Niemann-Pick
disease type C in a subject is from 99.4% to 100%, preferably
100%.
Embodiment 45
[0150] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 44,
wherein step b) and/or step c) and/or step e) comprise(s) that
[0151] a level of the biomarker in said subject and/or
[0152] a level of the at least one additional biomarker
[0153] is/are compared
[0154] to a level of the biomarker and/or
[0155] to the level of the at least one additional biomarker
[0156] detected in a sample from a control sample;
[0157] and/or that
[0158] the ratio of the level of the at least one additional
biomarker to the level of the biomarker
[0159] is compared
[0160] to the ratio of the level of the at least one additional
biomarker to the level of the biomarker detected in a sample from a
control.
Embodiment 46
[0161] The method according to embodiment 45, wherein the control
sample is a sample from a subject not having Niemann-Pick
disease.
Embodiment 47
[0162] The method according to any one of embodiments 45 to 46,
wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than the level of the biomarker in the control
sample this is indicative that the subject is suffering from and/or
is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 48
[0163] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 46,
wherein if the ratio of the level of the at least one additional
biomarker in the sample from the subject to the level of the
biomarker in the sample from the subject is higher than the ratio
of the level of the at least one additional biomarker in the
control sample to the level of the biomarker in the control sample,
this is indicative that the subject is suffering from and/or is at
risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 49
[0164] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 48,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick type A or B, Niemann-Pick type C, and Niemann-Pick
type C carrier.
Embodiment 50
[0165] The method according to embodiment 49, wherein Niemann-Pick
disease type C is selected from the group comprising Niemann-Pick
disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type C2 and Niemann-Pick
disease type D.
Embodiment 51
[0166] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 50,
preferably to embodiment 50, wherein the sample from the subject is
selected from the group comprising blood, a blood product, urine,
saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, stool, tissue sample and lymph.
Embodiment 52
[0167] The method according to embodiment 51, wherein the sample
from the sample from the subject is selected from the group
comprising blood and a blood product.
Embodiment 53
[0168] The method according to any one of embodiments 51 to 52,
wherein the blood product is selected from the group comprising
serum and plasma.
Embodiment 54
[0169] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 53,
preferably 53, wherein the method has a limit of detection for free
lyso-sphingomyelin of 0.04 ng/ml.
Embodiment 55
[0170] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier and wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin
and the cut-off value is 6.5 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the
subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 56
[0171] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C and wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and the
cut-off value is 9.23 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the
subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 57
[0172] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type A or B and wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin
and the cut-off value is 59 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the
subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 58
[0173] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier and wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and the
cut-off value is 0.031 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the
subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 59
[0174] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C and wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and the cut-off
value is 1.7 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the subject is
preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 60
[0175] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type A or B and wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and the
cut-off value is 5.0 ng/ml, and wherein the sample from the subject
is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 61
[0176] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C and wherein the ratio of the level of compound 509 in the
sample from the subject to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
biomarker in the sample from the subject is compared to a cut-off
value, and wherein the cut-off value is 0.087, and wherein the
sample from the subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 62
[0177] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54,
wherein the method is for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type A or B and wherein the ratio of the level of compound 509 in
the sample from the subject to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
biomarker in the sample from the subject is compared to a cut-off
value, and wherein the cut-off value is 0.045, and wherein the
sample from the subject is preferably serum or plasma.
Embodiment 63
[0178] The method according to any one of embodiments 51 to 52,
wherein the blood is whole blood.
Embodiment 64
[0179] The method according to embodiment 63, wherein the whole
blood is collected on a dry blood filter card.
Embodiment 65
[0180] A method for determining the course of Niemann-Pick disease
in a subject, wherein the method comprises a step a), wherein the
a) comprises determining at several points in time a level of a
biomarker present in a sample from the subject.
Embodiment 66
[0181] The method according to embodiment 65, wherein the biomarker
is selected from the group comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and
compound 509.
Embodiment 67
[0182] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 66,
wherein the biomarker is selected from the group consisting of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 68
[0183] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 67,
wherein the subject has been previously treated for Niemann-Pick
disease and/or wherein the subject has been previously diagnosed
for Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 69
[0184] The method according to embodiment 68, wherein the subject
has not been previously treated for Niemann-Pick disease and/or
wherein the subject has not been previously diagnosed for
Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 70
[0185] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 69,
wherein the method comprises [0186] a step b), wherein the step b)
comprises applying, maintaining, reducing, elevating or not
applying a therapy based on whether the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease or is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease.
Embodiment 71
[0187] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 70,
wherein the method comprises [0188] a step c), wherein the step c)
comprises detecting the biomarker in a sample from the subject
after a therapy has been applied, maintained, reduced, elevated or
not applied in step b).
Embodiment 72
[0189] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 71,
wherein the method comprises [0190] a step d), wherein the step d)
comprises determining a level of the biomarker in the sample from
the subject after a therapy has been applied, maintained, reduced,
elevated or not applied in step b).
Embodiment 73
[0191] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 71,
wherein the method comprises [0192] a step e), wherein the step e)
comprises determining whether the level of the biomarker determined
in step a) is lower than the level of the biomarker determined in
step d).
Embodiment 74
[0193] The method according to any embodiment 73, wherein the
method comprises [0194] a step f), wherein the step f) comprises
applying, maintaining, reducing, elevating or not applying a
therapy based on step e).
Embodiment 75
[0195] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 74,
wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 76
[0196] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 74,
wherein the biomarker is compound 509.
Embodiment 77
[0197] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 76,
wherein the method comprises detecting at least one additional
biomarker in the sample from the subject.
Embodiment 78
[0198] The method according to embodiment 77, wherein the method
comprises determining the level of the at least one additional
biomarker in the sample from the subject.
Embodiment 79
[0199] The method according to any one of embodiments 77 to 79,
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is selected from the
group comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509, and
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is different from the
biomarker.
Embodiment 80
[0200] The method according to any one of embodiments 77 to 79,
wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and wherein the at least one
additional biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 81
[0201] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 80,
wherein the method comprises determining the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 82
[0202] The method according to any one of embodiments 77 to 81,
preferably 80 to 81, wherein the method comprises [0203] a step h),
wherein the step h) comprises determining the ratio of the level of
the biomarker in the sample from the subject to the level of the at
least one additional biomarker in the sample form the subject
Embodiment 83
[0204] The method according to embodiment 82, wherein the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker as determined in step h) is indicative whether
or not the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease or
whether or not the subject is at risk of suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 84
[0205] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 83,
wherein the method comprises detecting free lyso-sphingomyelin and
compound 509 in the sample from the subject.
Embodiment 85
[0206] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 84,
wherein the biomarker and/or the at least one additional biomarker
is detected by means of immunoassay, mass spectrometric analysis,
biochip array, functional nucleic acids and/or a fluorescent
derivative of free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 86
[0207] The method according to embodiment 85, wherein the biomarker
is detected by means of mass spectrometric analysis.
Embodiment 87
[0208] The method according to embodiment 86, wherein mass
spectrometric analysis is selected from the group consisting of
SELDI, MALDI, MALDI-Q TOF, MS/MS, TOF-TOF and ESI-O-TOF
Embodiment 88
[0209] The method according to embodiment 87, wherein the mass
spectrometric analysis comprises or uses MS/MS MS/MS.
Embodiment 89
[0210] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 88,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation and/or HPLC.
Embodiment 90
[0211] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 89,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation, HPLC and
MS/MS.
Embodiment 91
[0212] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 90,
wherein the subject is a human.
Embodiment 92
[0213] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 91,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 93
[0214] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 92,
wherein step d) comprises detecting the biomarker in a sample
comprises subjecting the sample to a protein precipitation step,
precipitating protein from the sample, providing a supernatant of
the sample, subjecting the supernatant of the sample to HPLC and
MS/MS and determining the level of the biomarker and/or the at
least one additional biomarker that is/are present in the
supernatant of the sample.
Embodiment 94
[0215] The method according to any one of embodiments 65 to 93,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease type C is selected from the group
comprising Niemann-Pick disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type
C2 and Niemann-Pick disease type D.
Embodiment 95
[0216] A method for determining the effectiveness of at least one
treatment applied to a subject being positively tested for
suffering from or being at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease comprising [0217] a step a), wherein the step a) comprises
detecting at several points in time a level of a biomarker and/or
of a at least one additional biomarker present in a sample from the
subject.
Embodiment 96
[0218] The method according to embodiment 95, wherein the method
comprises [0219] a step b), wherein the step b) comprises
determining at several points in time a level of a biomarker and/or
of a at least one additional biomarker present in a sample from the
subject.
Embodiment 97
[0220] The method according to embodiment 96, wherein the method
comprises [0221] a step c), wherein the step c) comprises
determining the ratio of the level of the biomarker to the level of
the at least one additional biomarker as determined in step b).
Embodiment 98
[0222] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 or 97,
wherein the biomarker is selected from the group comprising free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 99
[0223] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 98,
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is selected from the
group comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509, and
wherein the at least one additional biomarker is different from the
biomarker.
Embodiment 100
[0224] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 99,
wherein the biomarker is compound 509 and wherein the at least one
additional biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 101
[0225] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 100,
wherein the subject has been previously treated for Niemann-Pick
disease or diagnosed for Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 102
[0226] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 100,
wherein the subject has not been previously treated for
Niemann-Pick disease or wherein the subject has not been previously
diagnosed for Niemann-Pick disease.
Embodiment 103
[0227] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 102,
wherein the method comprises [0228] a step d), wherein the step d)
comprises applying, maintaining, reducing, elevating or not
applying at least one treatment applied to the subject based on the
decrease in the level of the biomarker and/or the at least one
additional biomarker as determined in step b) and/or the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker as determined in step c).
Embodiment 104
[0229] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 102,
wherein the method comprises [0230] a step e), wherein the step e)
comprises detecting the biomarker and/or the at least one
additional biomarker in the sample from the subject, wherein the
sample has been taken prior to the beginning of the treatment after
applying, maintaining, reducing, elevating or not applying at least
one treatment in step d) and, optionally determining a level of a
biomarker and/or of a at least one additional biomarker present in
a sample from the subject, and optionally determining the ratio of
the level of the biomarker to the level of the at least one
additional biomarker.
Embodiment 105
[0231] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 104,
wherein the treatment is selected from the group comprising enzyme
replacement therapy, substrate reduction therapy, chaperone
therapy, gene therapy, stem cell transplantation of DNA/RNA
skipping.
Embodiment 106
[0232] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 105,
wherein the method comprises [0233] a step f), wherein the step f)
comprises determining whether the level of the biomarker determined
in step b) is lower than the level of the biomarker determined in
step e); and/or
[0234] determining whether the level of the at least one additional
biomarker determined in step b) is lower than the level of the at
least one additional biomarker determined in step e); and/or
[0235] determining whether the ratio of the level of the biomarker
to the level of the at least one additional biomarker as determined
in step c) is lower than the ratio of the level of the biomarker to
the level of the at least one additional biomarker as determined in
step e).
Embodiment 107
[0236] The method according to embodiment 106, wherein the method
comprises [0237] a step g). wherein step g) comprises applying,
maintaining, reducing, elevating or not applying at least one
treatment applied to the subject based on step f).
Embodiment 108
[0238] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 107,
wherein the biomarker and/or the at least one additional biomarker
is detected by means of immunoassay, mass spectrometric analysis,
biochip array, functional nucleic acids and/or a fluorescent
derivative of the biomarker.
Embodiment 109
[0239] The method according to embodiment 108, wherein the
biomarker and/or the at least one additional biomarker is detected
by means of mass spectrometric analysis.
Embodiment 110
[0240] The method according to embodiment 109, wherein mass
spectrometric analysis is selected from the group consisting of
SELDI, MALDI, MALDI-Q TOF, MS/MS, TOF-TOF and ESI-O-TOF.
Embodiment 111
[0241] The method according to embodiment 110, wherein the mass
spectrometric analysis comprises or uses MS/MS.
Embodiment 112
[0242] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 111,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation and/or HPLC.
Embodiment 113
[0243] The method according to any one of embodiments 96 to 112,
wherein the method comprises protein precipitation, HPLC and
MS/MS.
Embodiment 114
[0244] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 113,
wherein the subject is a human.
Embodiment 115
[0245] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 114,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 116
[0246] The method according to any one of embodiments 95 to 115,
wherein the step of detecting the biomarker in the sample from the
subject comprises precipitating protein from the sample from the
subject, wherein precipitating protein from the sample provides a
supernatant of the sample; subjecting a volume of the supernatant
to HPLC and MS/MS and determining the level of the biomarker and/or
the at least one additional biomarker that is/are present in the
sample from the subject.
Embodiment 117
[0247] The method according to any one of embodiments 115 to 116,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease type C is selected from the group
comprising Niemann-Pick disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type
C2 and Niemann-Pick disease type D.
Embodiment 118
[0248] A method of determining the effectiveness of a compound for
the treatment of Niemann-Pick disease, wherein the method comprises
the following steps: [0249] a) determining a level of a biomarker
in a sample form a subject having Niemann-Pick disease; [0250] b)
administering to said subject said compound; [0251] c) determining
again the level of the biomarker in a sample from the subject after
the compound has been administered to the subject; and [0252] d)
determining whether the level of the biomarker determined in step
c) is lower than the level of the biomarker determined in step
a);
[0253] wherein if a level of the biomarker determined in step c) is
lower than the level of the biomarker determined in step a) this
indicates the effectiveness of said compound.
Embodiment 119
[0254] The method according to embodiment 118, wherein [0255] step
a) and c) each additionally comprise
[0256] determining a level of at least one additional biomarker
present in the sample, and wherein [0257] step d) additionally
comprises
[0258] determining whether the level of the at least one additional
biomarker determined in step c) is lower than the level of the at
least one additional biomarker determined in step a), and
wherein
[0259] a level of the at least one biomarker determined in step c)
which is lower than the level of the at least one biomarker
determined in step a) indicates the effectiveness of said
compound.
Embodiment 120
[0260] The method according to embodiment 119, wherein [0261] step
a) additionally comprises
[0262] determining the ratio of the level of the biomarker to the
level of the at least one additional biomarker; [0263] step c)
additionally comprises determining the ratio of the level of the
biomarker to the level of the at least one additional biomarker and
wherein [0264] step d) comprises
[0265] determining whether the ratio of the level of the biomarker
to the level of the at least one additional biomarker determined in
step c), is lower than the ratio of the level of the biomarker to
the level of the at least one additional biomarker determined in
step a), and wherein
[0266] a ratio of the level of the biomarker to the level of the at
least one additional biomarker determined in step c) which is lower
than the ratio of the level of the biomarker to the level of the at
least one additional biomarker determined in step a) indicates the
effectiveness of said compound.
Embodiment 121
[0267] The method according to any one of embodiments 118 to 120,
wherein any/the biomarker is selected from the group comprising
free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509, and wherein the biomarker
is different from the at least one additional biomarker.
Embodiment 122
[0268] The method according to embodiment 121, wherein the method
comprises determining a level of the biomarker in a control
sample.
Embodiment 123
[0269] The method according to any one of embodiments 118 to 121,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick type A or B, Niemann-Pick type C, and Niemann-Pick
type C carrier.
Embodiment 124
[0270] The method according to embodiment 123, wherein Niemann-Pick
disease type C is selected from the group comprising Niemann-Pick
disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type C2 and Niemann-Pick
disease type D.
Embodiment 125
[0271] Use of mass spectrometric analysis for the detection of a
biomarker, wherein the biomarker is selected from the group
comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 126
[0272] Use according to embodiment 125, wherein the detection
comprises the use of HPLC.
Embodiment 127
[0273] Use according to any one of embodiments 125 to 126, wherein
the mass spectrometric analysis comprises or uses MS/MS.
Embodiment 128
[0274] Use of a biomarker for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, preferably in a method according to any one of embodiments
1 to 127, wherein the biomarker is selected from the group
comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 129
[0275] Use of a biomarker for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, preferably in a method according to any one of embodiments
1 to 124, wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin.
Embodiment 130
[0276] Use of a biomarker for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, preferably in a method according to any one of embodiments
1 to 124, wherein the biomarker is compound 509.
Embodiment 131
[0277] Use according to any one of embodiments 125 to 130, wherein
Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick type A or B, Niemann-Pick type C, and Niemann-Pick
type C carrier.
Embodiment 132
[0278] Use according to embodiment 130, wherein Niemann-Pick
disease type C is selected from the group comprising Niemann-Pick
disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type C2 and Niemann-Pick
disease type D.
Embodiment 133
[0279] Use of a ratio of a level of a biomarker present in a sample
from the subject to a level of an at least one additional biomarker
present in a sample from the subject for use in a method of
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, preferably in a method according
to any one of embodiments 1 to 124, wherein the biomarker is
selected from the group comprising free lyso-sphingomyelin and
compound 509.
Embodiment 134
[0280] A kit for determining the presence of a biomarker in a
sample from a subject, wherein the kit comprises [0281] a) an
interaction partner of the biomarker; [0282] b) optionally a solid
support comprising at least one capture reagent attached thereto,
wherein the capture reagent binds the biomarker; and [0283] c)
instructions for using the solid support to detect the
biomarker,
[0284] wherein the biomarker is selected from the group comprising
free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
Embodiment 135
[0285] The kit according to embodiment 132, wherein the kit is for
[0286] a) use in a method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease;
[0287] b) use in a method for determining the course of
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject; and/or [0288] c) use in a method
for determining the effectiveness of at least one treatment applied
to a subject,
[0289] wherein preferably the method of a), b) and/or c) is a
method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124.
Embodiment 136
[0290] The kit according to any one of embodiments 134 to 135,
wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group comprising
Niemann-Pick type A or B, Niemann-Pick type C, and Niemann-Pick
type C carrier.
Embodiment 137
[0291] The kit according to embodiment 136, wherein Niemann-Pick
disease type C is selected from the group comprising Niemann-Pick
disease type C1, Niemann-Pick disease type C2 and Niemann-Pick
disease type D.
Embodiment 138
[0292] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably embodiments 1 to 64, wherein the biomarker is compound
509,
[0293] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 0.031 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0294] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B, Niemann-Pick
disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 139
[0295] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably embodiment 138, wherein the biomarker is compound
509,
[0296] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 0.031 ng/ml and is lower than or as high as
1.7 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease
[0297] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 140
[0298] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 and 139, wherein the
biomarker is compound 509,
[0299] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 1.7 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0300] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B and Niemann-Pick
disease type C.
Embodiment 141
[0301] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 140, wherein the biomarker
is compound 509,
[0302] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 1.7 ng/ml and is lower than or as high as
5.0 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease
[0303] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Embodiment 142
[0304] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 141, wherein the biomarker
is compound 509,
[0305] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 5.0 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0306] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B.
Embodiment 143
[0307] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 142, wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin,
[0308] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 6.5 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0309] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B, Niemann-Pick
disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 144
[0310] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 143, wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin,
[0311] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 6.5 ng/ml and is lower than or as high as
9.23 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease
[0312] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
Embodiment 145
[0313] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 144, wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin;
[0314] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 9.23 ng/ml this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0315] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B and Niemann-Pick
disease type C.
Embodiment 146
[0316] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 145, wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin,
[0317] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 9.23 ng/ml and is lower than or as high as
59 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject is suffering from
Niemann-Pick disease
[0318] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Embodiment 147
[0319] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 146, wherein the biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin,
[0320] wherein if the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is higher than 59 ng/ml this is indicative that the subject
is suffering from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0321] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B.
Embodiment 148
[0322] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 147,
[0323] wherein if the ratio of the level of compound 509 in the
sample from the subject to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is
higher than 0.087 this is indicative that the subject is suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0324] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Embodiment 149
[0325] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 148,
[0326] wherein if the ratio of the level of compound 509 in the
sample from the subject to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is
higher than 0.045 this is indicative that the subject is suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease;
[0327] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B and Niemann-Pick
disease type C.
Embodiment 150
[0328] The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 124,
preferably any one of embodiments 138 to 149,
[0329] wherein if the ratio of the level of compound 509 in the
sample from the subject to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is
higher than 0.045 and is lower than or as high as 0.087 this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease
[0330] wherein Niemann-Pick disease is selected from the group
consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type A and/or B.
[0331] The present inventors have surprisingly found that compound
465, also referred to herein preferably as free lyso-sphingomyelin,
constitutes a biomarker which allows for a method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, more specifically diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject with high specificity and
sensitivity using said free lyso-sphingomyelin as the
biomarker.
[0332] The present inventors have also surprisingly found that
compound 509 constitutes a biomarker which allows for a method for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, more specifically
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject with high specificity
and sensitivity using said compound 509 as the biomarker.
[0333] Furthermore, the present inventors have also surprisingly
found that the ratio of the level of compound 509 in a sample from
a subject to the level of compound 465 in a, preferably the sample
from the subject both preferably determined by the methods of the
present invention, are suitable for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease type C in a subject, more specifically diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease type C in a subject with high specificity and
sensitivity.
[0334] In other words compound 465 and compound 509, respectively,
constitute biomarkers which allow for a method for the differential
diagnosis of a first group of Niemann-Pick disease consisting of
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, a second group of Niemann-Pick
disease consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C and a third group
of Niemann-Pick disease consisting of Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier. In accordance therewith it is possible to discriminate a
subject belonging to or assumed to belong to the first group of
Niemann-Pick disease from a subject belonging to or assumed to
belong to the second group of Niemann-Pick disease and/or the third
group of Niemann-Pick disease. In accordance therewith it is also
possible to discriminate a subject belonging to or assumed to
belong to the second group of Niemann-Pick disease from a subject
belonging to or assumed to belong to the first group of
Niemann-Pick disease and/or the third group of Niemann-Pick
disease. In accordance therewith it is also possible to
discriminate a subject belonging to or assumed to belong to the
third group of Niemann-Pick disease from a subject belonging to or
assumed to belong to the first group of Niemann-Pick disease and/or
the second group of Niemann-Pick disease.
[0335] The ratio of the level of compound 509 in a sample from a
subject to the level of compound 465 in a or in the sample from the
subject allows discriminating Niemann-Pick disease type C from
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B. Accordingly, it is possible to
discriminate a subject suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C
from a subject suffering from either Niemann-Pick disease type A or
B. It is also within the present invention that the ratio of the
level of compound 509 in a sample from a subject to the level of
compound 465 in a or in the sample from the subject allows to
determine whether or not a subject is suffering from or is at risk
of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C.
[0336] The present inventors have also surprisingly found that free
lyso-sphingomyelin, which can be detected by the methods of the
present invention, is circulating in the blood of a subject in a
concentration of approximately 1/1000 of total sphingomyelin.
Moreover, the present inventors have surprisingly found that,
unlike total sphingomyelin, free lyso-sphingomyelin which is
present in the blood of a subject is useful in a method for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject comprising a step of
detecting a biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin. The present inventors have
also surprisingly found that the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
determined in the sample from a subject by the methods of the
present invention allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease with
high sensitivity and high specificity.
[0337] In so far the present invention turns away from the teaching
of the prior art in that the method of the present invention
comprises determining the level of a lyso-compound and using said
lyso-compound as a biomarker for diagnosis of a sphingolipidoses.
More specifically, the present inventors have surprisingly found
that determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin in a sample
from a subject allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease with high
sensitivity and high specificity.
[0338] It is also the merit of the present inventors of having
recognized that a fraction of total sphingomyelin which is
accumulated in Niemann-Pick disease, is present as a molecule in a
free lyso form thereof, i.e. free lyso-sphingomyelin, and is
circulating in the blood of a subject in said free lyso form
besides sphingomyelin.
[0339] Furthermore, the present inventors have also surprisingly
found that compound 509, which can be detected by the methods of
the present invention, is circulating in the blood of a subject.
Moreover, the present inventors have surprisingly found that
compound 509 which is present in the blood of a subject is useful
in a method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
comprising a step of detecting a biomarker in a sample from the
subject, wherein the biomarker is compound 509. The present
inventors have also surprisingly found that the level of compound
509 determined in the sample from a subject by the methods of the
present invention allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease with
high sensitivity and high specificity.
[0340] In connection with the instant invention it is referred to
the concentration or level of compound 509. Such concentration or
level of compound 509 is preferably determined as follows. In the
analytical set-up as described in the example part in more detail
an internal standard is added to the sample to be analyzed. In the
course of such analysis a chromatogram is obtained indicating as
individual peaks the various compounds detected in the sample. The
various compounds include, among others, compound 509 and the
internal standard. In order to determine from such chromatogram and
the peaks indicated therein the concentration or level of compound
509 the peak area of the peak corresponding to compound 509 and the
peak area of the peak corresponding to the internal standard is
determined. The ratio of the peak area of the peak corresponding to
compound 509 and the peak area of the peak corresponding to the
internal standard is subsequently determined and normalized to the
concentration of the internal standard added to the sample to be
analyzed. The thus obtained concentration of compound 509 is also
referred to herein as the normalized concentration of compound
509.
[0341] In those embodiments of the methods of the present invention
where the concentration or level of compound 509 is used, either as
such or when calculating a ratio involving said concentration or
level of compound 509 such as the ratio of the concentration of
compound 509 in the sample from the subject to the concentration of
free lyso-sphingomyelin in the sample from the subject, the
concentration of compound 509 is preferably the normalized
concentration of compound 509.
[0342] The term "lysosomal storage disorder", also referred to
herein as "lysosomal storage disease" or "LSD", as used herein,
preferably refers to genetic diseases and metabolic disorders that
result from defects in lysosomal function. Lysosomal storage
disorders are caused by lysosomal dysfunction usually as a
consequence of deficiency of a single enzyme required for the
metabolism of lipids, glycoproteins or so-called
mucopolysaccharides. Like other genetic diseases, individuals
inherit lysosomal storage diseases from their parents. Although
each disorder results from different gene mutations that translate
into a deficiency in enzyme activity, they all share a common
biochemical characteristic--all lysosomal disorders originate from
an abnormal accumulation of substances inside the lysosome.
[0343] Niemann-Pick disease, also referred to herein preferably as
NP, are autosomal recessively inherited genetic diseases which are
classified in a subgroup of LSD called sphingolipidoses or lipid
storage disorders in which harmful quantities of fatty substances,
or lipids, accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and
brain. Depending on the mutation of the affected protein
Niemann-Pick disease is usually divided into four subgroups, namely
Niemann-Pick disease type A, B, C and D, also referred to herein
preferably as NPA in case of Niemann-Pick disease type A, NPB in
case of Niemann-Pick disease type B, NPC in case of Niemann-Pick
disease type C and NPD in case of Niemann-Pick disease type D,
respectively. Thus Niemann-Pick disease as used herein preferably
comprises Niemann-Pick disease type A, Niemann-Pick disease type B,
Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type D.
[0344] That Niemann-Pick disease is inherited in an autosomal
recessive pattern means that both copies, or alleles, of the gene
must be mutated or altered in such a way that function is impaired,
in contrast to a polymorphism, in which the nucleotide sequence is
altered but causes no functional disruption, for a person to be
affected by the disorder. Most often, the parents of a child with
an autosomal recessive disorder are not affected but are carriers
of one copy of the altered gene. Such carrier is referred to herein
as Niemann-Pick disease carrier, e.g. Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier. If both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance with
each pregnancy for an affected child. Genetic counseling and
genetic testing is recommended for families who may be carriers of
Niemann-Pick.
[0345] NPA has an extremely poor prognosis with most cases being
fatal by the age of 18 months. NPB and NPC normally possess a
better prognosis, with many patients with these disorders living
into their teens or adulthood.
[0346] Niemann-Pick disease Type C is biochemically, genetically
and clinically distinct from Niemann Pick disease types A or B.
[0347] Mutations in the SMPD1 gene cause complete or partial
deficiency of an enzyme called acid sphingomyelinase resulting in
accumulation of sphingomyelin and leading to NPA and NPB,
respectively.
[0348] Approximately 95% of Niemann-Pick disease Type C cases,
referred to herein preferably as type C1 or NPC1, are caused by
genetic mutations in the NPC1 gene, whereas 5%, referred to herein
preferably as type C2 or NPC2, are caused by mutations in the NPC2
gene (Mellon S H et al., March 2008. Brain research reviews 57 (2):
410-20).
[0349] In NPC the protein product of the major mutated gene NPC1 is
not an enzyme but appears to function as a trans-membrane
transporter protein in the endosomal-lysosomal system, which moves
large water-insoluble molecules through the cell. The protein coded
by the NPC2 gene is a soluble non-enzymatic protein which seems to
act in cooperation with the NPC1 protein in transporting molecules
in the cell. The disruption of this transport system results in the
accumulation of cholesterol and glycolipids in lysosomes.
[0350] The clinical manifestations of NPC1 and NPC2 are similar
because the respective genes are both involved in egress of lipids,
particularly cholesterol, from late endosomes or lysosomes. The
NPC1 gene is located on chromosome 18 (18q11-q12) (Zhang J R et
al., June 2008, The Journal of clinical investigation 118 (6):
2281-90).
[0351] NPD was originally separated from NPC to delineate a group
of patients with otherwise identical disorders who shared a common
Nova Scotian ancestry. Patients in this group are now known to
share a specific mutation in the NPC1 gene. In an embodiment of
Niemann-Pick disease type C, NPC comprises NPD. In a further
embodiment of Niemann-Pick disease type C, NPC comprises NPC1 and
NPC2.
[0352] Individuals affected by NPC may show symptoms comprising
splenomegaly, hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly, but this finding
may be absent in later onset cases. Prolonged jaundice or elevated
bilirubin can present at birth. In some cases, however, enlargement
of the spleen and/or liver does not occur for months or years--or
not at all. Enlargement of the spleen and/or liver frequently
becomes less apparent with time, in contrast to the progression of
other LSD such as NPA and NPB or Gaucher's disease. Organ
enlargement does not usually cause major complications.
[0353] Progressive neurological disease is the hallmark of NPC and
is responsible for disability and premature death in all cases
beyond early childhood. Children with NPC may initially present
with delays in reaching normal developmental milestones skills
before manifesting cognitive decline, i.e. dementia for
example.
[0354] Neurological signs and symptoms include cerebellar ataxia,
dysarthria, dysphagia, tremor, both partial and generalized
epilepsy, vertical supranuclear palsy comprising upgaze palsy,
downgaze palsy, saccadic palsy or paralysis, sleep inversion,
gelastic cataplexy, dystonia, most commonly begins with in turning
of one foot when walking (action dystonia) and may spread to become
generalized, spasticity, hypotonia, ptosis, microcephaly,
psychosis, progressive dementia, progressive hearing loss, bipolar
disorder, major and psychotic depression that can include
hallucinations, delusions, mutism, or stupor. In the terminal
stages of NPC, the patient is bedridden, with complete
ophthalmoplegia, loss of volitional movement and has severe
dementia.
[0355] The accumulated substances, cholesterol and glycolipids,
have varied roles in the cell. Cholesterol is a major component of
cell plasma membranes, which define the cell as a whole and its
organelles. It is also the basic building block of steroid
hormones, including neurosteroids. In NPC, large amounts of free or
unesterified cholesterol accumulates in lysosomes, and leads to
relative deficiency of this molecule in multiple membranes and for
steroid synthesis. The accumulation of glycosphingolipids in the
nervous system has been linked to structural changes, namely
ectopic dendritogenesis and meganeurite formation.
[0356] NPC is diagnosed by assaying cultured fibroblasts for
cholesterol esterification and staining for unesterified
cholesterol with filipin. The fibroblasts are grown from a small
skin biopsy taken from a patient with suspected NPC. The diagnosis
can be confirmed by identifying mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2
genes.
[0357] The prognosis for patients having NPC usually relates to the
age of onset. Children with antenatal or infantile onset usually
succumb in the first few months or years of life, whereas
adolescent and adult onset forms of NPC have a more insidious onset
and slower progression, and affected individuals may survive to the
seventh decade. Adult cases of NPC are being recognized with
increasing frequency. It is suspected that many patients affected
by NPC are undiagnosed, owing to lack of awareness of the disease
and the absence of readily available screening or diagnostic tests.
For the same reasons the diagnosis is often delayed by many
years.
[0358] Currently there are no causative cures for NP and treatment
is mostly symptomatic and limited with care being mostly
supportive. Organ transplantation has been attempted with limited
success. Bone marrow transplant has been attempted for NPB. Future
prospects include enzyme replacement therapy, also referred to
herein preferably as ERT, and gene therapy. Several other treatment
strategies are under investigation in cell culture and animal
models of NPC. These include cyclodextrin, cholesterol
mobilization, neurosteroid and Curcumin as an anti-inflammatory and
calcium modulatory agent (Loyd-Evans E et al., October 2008, Nature
medicine 14 (11): 1247-55).
[0359] The drug Zavesca comprising Miglustat as an active
incredient has been approved at least in the European Union for the
treatment of progressive neurological manifestations in adult
patients and pediatric patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C
disease. Miglustat is a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, which
inhibits the synthesis of glycosphingolipids in cells. It has been
shown to delay the onset of disease in the NPC mouse, and published
data from a multi-center clinical trial of Miglustat in the United
States and England and from case reports suggests that it may
ameliorate the course of human NPC.
[0360] Sphingomyelin is a sphingolipid found in cellular membranes
of animal cells, especially in the membranous myelin sheath that
surrounds some nerve cell axons. In humans, sphingomyelin is
believed to be the only cell membrane phospholipid not derived from
glycerol.
[0361] Like all sphingolipids, sphingomyelin consists of a ceramide
core, i.e. sphingosine bound to a fatty acid via an amide linkage.
In addition, it contains one polar head group, which is either
phosphocholine, phosphochorylcholine or phosphoethanolamine. A
typical sphingomyelin has the formula:
##STR00001##
[0362] In NPA and NPB the enzyme deficiency results in a block of
lipid degradation, resulting in the accumulation of sphingomyelin
within lysosomes in the macrophage-monocyte phagocyte lineage.
Affected cells become enlarged, sometimes up to 90 microns in
diameter, secondary to the distention of lysosomes with
sphingomyelin and cholesterol.
[0363] It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that
the term "lyso-sphingomyelin" as used herein, preferably in
connection with the various methods of the invention, preferably
means that the molecule is present in its free amino form. More
precisely, lyso-sphingomyelin as used herein, preferably differs
from sphingomyelin in that no fatty acid moiety is linked to
the--primary--amino group of the sphingosine moiety of the
molecule. Furthermore, lyso-sphingomyelin is also referred to
herein as compound 465, Sphingosylphosphorylcholine or Sphingosine
phosphorylcholine. A typical lyso-sphingomyelin has the
formula:
##STR00002##
[0364] It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that
the term "free lyso-sphingomyelin" as used herein preferably refers
to lyso-sphingomyelin which is as such present in a sample from a
or the subject, such as blood, and, preferably, is not the result
of a manipulation of the sample of said subject. Such manipulation
of a sample can be the one described by Groener et al. (Groener et
al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1781(2908)72-78, 2007). In
accordance therewith, free lyso-sphingomyelin which is present as
such in the blood of a subject from whom the sample is taken, is
more particularly not a lyso-sphingomyelin which is generated by
chemical, biochemical or physical treatment of the sample contained
in the blood and sample, respectively, preferably outside of the
body of the patient. It will be also understood by a person skilled
in the art that free lyso-sphingomyelin as used herein, preferably
is present in addition to sphingomyelin and is a compound produced
by the subject's metabolic activities. Accordingly, sphingomyelin,
which is the molecule that is accumulated in connection with
Niemann-Pick disease, such as Niemann-Pick disease type A and type
B, is present in the sample from the subject and has compared to
the molecule in a free lyso form, i.e. free-lyso-sphingomyelin,
present in the blood of the subject at least one fatty acid moiety
linked to the--primary--amino group of the sphingosine moiety of
lyso-sphingomyelin.
[0365] In an embodiment of the biomarker according to the present
invention the biomarker is detected by means of immunoassay, mass
spectrometric analysis, biochip array, functional nucleic acids
and/or a fluorescent derivative of the biomarker. In connection
therewith it is important to note that such detection allows for
the selective detection of the biomarker as present in the blood of
a subject as such and particularly is not the result of a
manipulation of the sample of said subject resulting in a change of
the concentration of the biomarker, such as the derivatization of
Gb1 into lyso-Gb1 according to the method of the prior art as
described above. Such manipulation may result in the inability to
distinguish the biomarker of the present invention, such as
free-lyso-sphingomyelin, and thus the biomarker of the present
invention cannot be detected as such and the level of said
biomarker cannot be determined as such, respectively, without
detecting the manipulated further substance, e.g. Gb1 derivatized
into lyso-Gb1 according to the method of the prior art. In the
light thereof it will be immediately understood that the biomarker
present in the blood of the subject such as free-lysosphingomyelin
present as such in the blood of the subject, is also present in the
sample of the subject as such and may, nevertheless, be selectively
labeled with and/or linked to a means such as a fluorescent dye or
a nucleic acid molecule specifically binding the biomarker. Such
selective labeling or linking allows detecting and/or determining
the level of the labeled or linked biomarker, without labeling of,
linking to or converting a further substance, such as the converted
lyso-Gb1 of the prior art, which cannot be distinguished from the
biomarker, more precisely the labeled or linked biomarker. In
connection therewith, e.g. a fluorescent derivative of the
biomarker of the present invention concerns a biomarker which is
labeled with and/or bound to a fluorescence dye or molecule, i.e.
resulting in a fluorescent derivative of the biomarker, which
allows for detecting the fluorescent derivative and/or determining
the level of the fluorescent derivative of the biomarker of the
invention.
[0366] The substance herein referred to as compound 509, which can
be detected by the methods of the present invention and which is
useful in the method according to the present invention as a
biomarker is a substance having a molecular weight of 508, detected
as MRM transition in positive mode 509 m/z to 184 m/z in a sample
of plasma from a subject according to the method of the present
invention, more particularly in Example 1 and Example 2 as
described herein.
[0367] The term "sample" as used herein means preferably a limited
quantity of a subject's material, wherein said subject's material
is part of or has been taken from a subject and/or a subject's
body. Preferably, said material is selected from the group
comprising body fluids such as blood, a blood product, urine,
saliva, cerebrospinal fluid and lymph, as well as stool or any kind
of tissue and or cell material being part of a subject and/or a
subject's body. It will be acknowledged by a person skilled in the
art, that the presence of and/or a level of a biomarker of the
invention in said sample is intended to be similar to and represent
the presence and/or the level of the biomarker in a larger amount
of that subject's material. More precisely and as an illustrative,
non-limiting example, a level of a biomarker of the invention
determined in a sample of, e.g., some ml of blood from a subject
also represents a level of said biomarker in the blood of the
subject's body. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the method of the
invention for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, a
sample from the subject comprises said subject's material in a
form, for example processed, fixed and/or preserved such that said
sample is suitable for use in the method of the invention, whereby
such processing, fixing and/or preserving preferably does not
generate lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 which was not as
such present in the blood of the patient. The subject's material in
the sample may thus be diluted, for example with a solvent suitable
for the method of the invention such as methanol and/or water, may
be dried, for example on a filter card, may be resolved after
having been dried such, for example with a solvent suitable for the
method of the invention such as methanol and/or water, or a
substance may be added, wherein said substance prevents blood from
coagulation such as for example EDTA or heparin. It will be further
understood by a person skilled in the art that the method of the
invention comprises that said subject's material is separated into
single components of said subject's material and/or single
components of said subject's material are extracted from said
subject's material, for example blood is separated into plasma or
serum and cellular blood components or protein is precipitated from
the sample. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the method according
to the present invention wherein the method comprises protein
precipitation and/or HPLC, precipitation of protein preferably
results in a) a precipitation of cellular blood components and/or
protein, more preferably forming a pellet after a step of
centrifugation, and b) the biomarker being preferably not
precipitated and being present in the supernatant after a step of
centrifugation. A person skilled in the art will immediately
understand that in an embodiment of the method according to the
present invention wherein the method comprises HPLC a supernatant
containing the biomarker(s) of the present invention or a part
thereof is subjected to HPLC. In connection therewith it is
important to understand that the supernatant or a part thereof
which is subjected to HPLC comprises the biomarker to be detected
as well as, preferably, an internal standard. In an embodiment of
the method of the invention wherein an internal standard is added
to the sample, the internal standard may be added to the sample
before or after a precipitation step, i.e. the internal standard
may be added into the sample immediately after the sample is taken
from the subject, or may be added to the supernatant which is
subjected to HPLC, as well as in between these time points. A
person skilled in the art will know, how and when an internal
standard is preferably added to the sample in order to achieve an
accurate detection and determination of a level of the
biomarker.
[0368] It will be immediately understood that after such
processing, fixing and/or preserving the sample is subjected to the
methods of the invention for detecting and/or determining the level
of a biomarker contained in said sample whereby such processing,
fixing and/or preserving preferably does not generate
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 which was not present in the
sample from the patient as such.
[0369] In an embodiment of the method of the present invention
wherein whole blood is collected on a dry blood filter card
preferably approximately 3 .mu.l of full blood are collected on a
spot of said dry blood filter card having a diameter of 3 mm. A
person skilled in the art will acknowledge that the exact volume
thus collected may vary depending on the hematocrit of the specific
patient.
[0370] The levels of glucosylceramide and its precursor ceramide
were used in the prior art to correlate their presence in plasma
with the severity of Gaucher's disease type I and the response to
the application of therapy (Groener et al., Biochimica et
Biophysica Acta 1781(2908)72-78, 2007). Thereby, the level of Gb1
was found to be different although ceramide levels were not
significantly different in the plasma of treated and untreated
Gaucher's disease type I patients.
[0371] In the study reported by Groener et al. (Groener et al.,
supra) the ratio of Gb1/ceramide was used to discriminate between
Gaucher's disease patients and healthy patients. Gb1 and ceramide
were measured with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
essentially as described in Groener et al. (J. E. M. Groener et
al., Clin. Chern. 53 (2007) 742-747). In connection therewith it is
important to understand that Gb1 present in the plasma mainly
consists of a sugar moiety and a ceramide moiety. The ceramide
moiety comprising a sphingosine and a fatty acid moiety. According
to the method of the prior art lipids are extracted and ceramide
and glucosylceramide are deacetylated by alkaline hydrolysis thus
forming the lyso form, i.e. lyso-Gb1 (T. Taketomi et al., J.
Biochem. (Tokyo) 120 (1996) 573-579). Subsequently, the thus
produced lyso-Gb1 is labeled with a fluorescence dye by
derivatization with O-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) at the primary amine
group. Afterwards the derivatized sphingoid bases were separated by
reverse phase HPLC and detected with a fluorescence detector. Thus
said method of the prior art is able to detect total Gb1 consisting
of free lyso-Gb1 and Gb1 and is not able to distinguish a level of
free lyso-Gb1 from a level of Gb1 in a sample from a subject. The
level of said total Gb1 after cleavage of the various fatty acid
moieties from the NH2 group of the Gb1 is usually in a range of
from 5 to 30 .mu.g per mL plasma or serum. From this it is evident
that in the method of Groener et al. (Groener et al., supra) the
total-Gb1 which can be prepared and obtained, respectively, from a
sample, preferably a blood sample, from a subject is used as a
biomarker rather than the free lyso-Gb1 contained in the blood and
accordingly also in the sample without performing a cleavage of the
fatty acid moiety/moieties, preferably a cleavage performed by an
operator handling the sample. Insofar, the present invention is
related to the detection of free lyso-sphingomyelin rather than
total-sphingomyelin.
[0372] Although total Gb1 measured as lyso-Gb1 in said study of the
prior art was increased in plasma of said patients, said increase
in total Gb1 was not prominent and thus the specificity and the
sensitivity of the method were low showing that Gb1 is not suitable
as a biomarker for Gaucher's disease.
[0373] It is an embodiment of the methods of the present invention
comprising detecting and/or determining the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin in a sample from a subject that free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is
determined separate from and/or apart from sphingomyelin or a level
of sphingomyelin which may be present in the blood of a subject. In
a further embodiment sphingomyelin and/or a level of sphingomyelin
is detected/determined in addition to the detection of and/or the
determining of a level of free lyso-sphingomyelin.
[0374] Importantly, each primary amine circulating in the plasma
and being sufficiently lipophilic to be extracted concomitantly
with sphingomyelin using an organic solvent according to said
method of the art is labeled accordingly and thus is able to
disturb the detection of cleaved lyso-sphingomyelin.
[0375] In an embodiment of the biomarker according to the present
invention what has been outlined above with regard to free
lyso-sphingomyelin also applies to any biomarker of the present
invention being present as in a free-lyso form.
[0376] Insofar, the biomarker of the present invention and uses
thereof clearly exceed the performance of methods for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease type A and B,
Niemann-Pick disease type C and/or Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier, known the prior art, more specifically, attempts of such
methods using biomarkers. It will be immediately understood that a
method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease analogous to the method
applied by Groener et al. for diagnosing Gaucher's disease (Groener
et al., supra) is prejudicial compared to the methods of the
present invention in that diagnosing of Niemann-Pick disease based
on such method of the prior art using total sphingomyelin rather
than free lyso-sphingomyelin as the method of the prior art using
total Gb1 rather than free lyso-Gb1 is not suitable for reliable
clinical application thereof, i.e. the method has no sensitivity
and specificity sufficient to diagnose Gaucher's disease by a
reliable statistically secured prediction.
[0377] In clear contrast thereto the present invention provides
methods for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease and biomarkers
used in said methods which allow the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease with high sensitivity and high specificity. More
importantly, the methods of the present invention using the
biomarker/biomarkers of the present invention allows for
differentially diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease type A and B; and
Niemann-Pick disease type C; and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier in a subject. To the best of their knowledge the present
inventors believe that the methods of the present invention allow
for the first time to delineate Niemann-Pick disease type C from
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B using a biomarker/biomarkers
according to the present invention in a rapid, and more
importantly, highly sensitive and highly specific assay suitable of
clinical application.
[0378] The term "Niemann-Pick disease status" as used herein,
preferably refers to the status of the disease in the subject.
Examples of types of Niemann-Pick disease statuses include, but are
not limited to, the subject's risk of suffering or developing
Niemann-Pick disease, the stage of the disease in a subject and the
effectiveness of treatment of the disease. Other statuses and
degrees of each status are known in the art. In an embodiment of
the present invention the Niemann-Pick disease status comprises a
severe, mild, or healthy Niemann-Pick disease status.
[0379] The term "diagnosing" as used herein, preferably means
determining the presence or the absence of a disease or disorder in
a subject and/or determining whether a subject is at risk for
developing a disease, a disorder or symptoms related to a disease
or disorder as well as predicting a status of a disease.
"Diagnosis" or "diagnosing" as used herein also preferably means
that a cause of symptoms of a disease which are present or will be
present is identified.
[0380] In connection therewith it is important to note that a
person skilled in the art, such as a skilled clinician consulted by
a subject suffering from symptoms or suspected to be ill, applies
the methods of the present invention and thus determines whether a
subject is at risk for developing a disease, particularly
Niemann-Pick disease and more particularly Niemann-Pick disease
type A/B, Niemann-Pick disease type C and/or Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier, whether a subject suffers from such disease or
predicts the status of such disease, preferably based on the result
obtained by the practicing of the methods of the present
invention.
[0381] Based on said diagnosis the person skilled in the art will
recommend to apply, maintain, reduce, elevate or not apply a
therapy or to perform further diagnostic tests.
[0382] It is thus an embodiment of the method of the present
invention for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease that the method
comprises giving a recommendation whether a therapy should be
applied, maintained, reduced, elevated or not applied.
[0383] The term "differentially diagnosing" as used herein in
connection with the method of the present invention preferably
means that the method allows determining the presence or the
absence of a disease or disorder in a subject and/or determining
whether a subject is at risk for developing a disease, a disorder
or symptoms related to a disease or disorder as well as predicting
a status of a disease, wherein the disease is each and any of
Niemann-Pick disease type A and B; Niemann-Pick disease type C; and
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier.
[0384] The term "detecting" in the context of the present invention
means methods which include detecting the presence or absence of a
substance in a sample and/or qualifying the type of said substance.
Detecting can be accomplished by methods known in the art and those
further described herein, including, but not limited to, the direct
measurement of the affected protein(s) e.g. the sequencing of genes
SMPD1, NPC1 and/or NPC2. Any suitable method can be used to detect
one or more of the biomarkers described herein. These methods
include, without limitation, mass spectrometry (e.g. HPLC-MS/MS),
fluorescence (e.g. sandwich immunoassay), HPLC-fluorescence or
HPLC-UV preferably after derivatization of free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509.
[0385] A biomarker as used herein, preferably is any biological
compound, such as a protein and a fragment thereof, a peptide, a
polypeptide, a proteoglycan, a glycoprotein, a lipoprotein, a
carbohydrate, a lipid, a nucleic acid, an organic or inorganic
chemical, a natural polymer, and a small molecule, which is
differentially present in a sample from a subject of one phenotypic
status (e.g. having a disease) as compared with another phenotypic
status (e.g. not having the disease) and which may be isolated
from, or measured in the sample from the subject. Furthermore, the
biomarker can be the entire intact molecule, or it can be a portion
thereof which is preferably detected by mass spectrometric
analysis, an antibody, another protein specifically binding the
biomarker, functional nucleic acids specifically binding the
biomarker and/or a fluorescent label. A biomarker is furthermore
considered to be informative if a measurable aspect of the
biomarker is associated with a given status of the patient, such as
a particular status of Niemann-Pick disease type C. Such a
measurable aspect may include, for example, the presence, absence,
or the level of the biomarker in the sample from the subject and/or
its presence as part of a profile of biomarkers. A measurable
aspect may also be a ratio of two or more measurable aspects of
biomarkers, which biomarkers may or may not be of known identity,
for example. A profile of biomarkers comprises at least two such
measurable aspects, where the measurable aspects can correspond to
the same or different classes of biomarkers such as, for example, a
nucleic acid and a carbohydrate. A biomarker profile may also
comprise at least three, four, five, 10, 20, 30 or more measurable
aspects. In one embodiment, a biomarker profile comprises hundreds,
or even thousands, of measurable aspects. In another embodiment,
the biomarker profile comprises at least one measurable aspect of
at least one biomarker and at least one measurable aspect of at
least one internal standard.
[0386] In an embodiment of the method according to the present
invention an internal standard is added to a sample from a subject.
It will be acknowledged that by said addition of internal standard,
also referred to herein as IS, to the sample, i.e. spiking of the
sample, to be subjected to the method according to the present
invention, the concentration of IS in the sample is known and,
e.g., by determining the area under the peak, i.e. the peak area,
of the internal standard in, e.g., an HPLC-mass spectrometric
chromatogram the relation between a peak area and a concentration
of a substance, e.g. of IS and/or the biomarker of the present
invention, e.g. free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, can
thus be calculated, e.g., by calculating the ratio of the peak area
of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 and the peak area of
IS. A person skilled in the art will further acknowledge that
various molecules may be used as an IS. Nevertheless an IS having a
similar chemical structure compared to the molecule such as the
biomarker, e.g. free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, is
preferable. In accordance therewith, the present inventors have in
an embodiment chosen lyso-Gb2 which is not present as such in
nature. In a preferred embodiment the molecule being the IS can be
distinguished from the biomarker or the biomarkers of the present
invention, e.g. free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, in the
method of the present invention. In a further preferred embodiment
the IS is selected such that a molecule which is ideally not
present or rare in nature. In an embodiment of the present
invention where the internal standard is added to a sample from a
subject, it is preferred that the IS is added such that it is
dissolved in a solvent, e.g. ethanol, prior to said addition to the
sample. In a further preferred embodiment that the solvent is
selected such that said solvent is capable of causing protein
precipitation, preferably is capable of causing the protein
precipitation step as subject to the method of the present
invention.
[0387] In some embodiments of the present invention a protein
precipitation and/or protein precipitation step is part of the
method of the present invention. It will be understood that
precipitation as used herein, preferably means the formation of a
solid in a solution, i.e. for example the formation of a protein
precipitate in a sample, e.g. serum, from a subject. When
precipitation, e.g. protein precipitation, occurs in a sample, the
solid formed is called the precipitate, or when compacted by a
centrifuge, a pellet. The liquid remaining above the solid is in
either case called the supernatant. The present invention
contemplates different methods of precipitation and/or separating
said supernatant and said precipitate or pellet, comprising, among
others, settling or sedimentation and centrifugation. A person
skilled in the art will know further methods for protein
precipitation and/or for separating a supernatant and a protein
precipitate, nevertheless said skilled person will acknowledge that
if a method, preferably a method of the invention, is applied were
precipitated protein will disable a device such as a column or
HPLC-column used in connection with the present invention the
precipitated protein is preferably separated from the solvent
and/or the sample.
[0388] In some embodiments of the present invention a level of a
biomarker of the present invention, e.g. free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509, determined by a method of the present
invention in a sample is compared to a level of the same or another
biomarker of the present invention determined by a method of the
present invention in another sample, e.g. from the same patient,
from another patient, from a control and/or from the same or
different time points, and/or a cut-off value, and/or a level of a
control and/or a level of an IS. In connection therewith
"comparing" or "compared to" as used herein, preferably means the
mathematical comparison of the two or more values of the levels of
the biomarker(s). It will thus be immediately evident whether one
of said values is higher, lower or identical if at least two of
such values are compared with each other.
[0389] In some embodiments of the present invention the method of
the present invention comprises a step of determining the ratio of
the level of two biomarkers determined by the method of the present
invention. In a more preferred embodiment the ratio is determined
by dividing the level of a first biomarker, i.e. a biomarker of the
present invention, by the level of a second biomarker, i.e. at
least one additional biomarker of the present invention, wherein
the level of both biomarkers was determined by the present
invention. In an even more preferred embodiment the ratio is
determined by dividing the level of the biomarker and the level of
the at least one additional biomarker, wherein most preferably the
biomarker is compound 509 and the at least one additional biomarker
is free lyso-sphingomyelin. It is the merit of the present
inventors having found that said ratio of the levels of two
biomarkers is indicative that the subject is suffering from or is
at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease, more particularly
for suffering from any one of Niemann-Pick disease type A and B;
Niemann-Pick disease type C; and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier. In a more preferred embodiment the ratio of the level of
compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin being higher
than the cut-off value is indicative that the subject is suffering
from or is at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C.
It is important to understand in connection therewith that a
cut-off value to which said ratio is compared to is the value which
allows to diagnose with the highest selectivity and
sensitivity.
[0390] In an embodiment of the method according to the present
invention in which a ratio of two biomarkers determined by the
method of the present invention is determined and which is
indicative that the subject is suffering from a particular disease,
e.g. by comparing said ratio to a cut-off value, it is considered
to combine the diagnosis based on said ratio with a diagnosis based
on a level of one or more single biomarkers present in the sample
which is indicative that the subject is suffering from a particular
disease, e.g. by comparing said level(s) to the respective cut-off
value(s). In other words, it is considered to first detect a
biomarker in a sample from the subject, determine a level said
biomarker present in the sample and compare said level of said
biomarker to a first cut-off value, wherein said first cut-off
value allows for diagnosing a disease, preferably differentially
diagnosing said disease; second detect an additional biomarker in a
sample from the subject, determine a level of said additional
biomarker present in the sample and compare said level of said
biomarker to a second cut-off value, wherein said second cut-off
value allows for further diagnosing the disease or confirming the
result of diagnosing with the biomarker used first, and/or
preferably differentially diagnosing said disease; and third
determining the ratio of the level of the biomarker to the level of
the additional biomarker and compare said ratio to a third cut-off
value, wherein said third cut-off value allows for further
diagnosing the disease or confirming the result of diagnosing with
the biomarker used first and the additional biomarker, and/or
preferably differentially diagnosing said disease.
[0391] The term "cut-off value" as used herein preferably refers to
a level, concentration and/or a titer of a biomarker of the present
invention. In some embodiments where a ratio of two levels,
concentrations and/or titers of the biomarkers of the present
invention is considered said cut-off value is referred to a value
of a ratio to which the ratio of two levels, concentrations and/or
titers of the biomarkers is compared, and wherein if said ratio of
two levels, concentrations and/or titers of the biomarkers of the
present invention determined by the methods of the present
invention is elevated, increased or higher compared to the cut-off
value to which the ratio of two levels, concentrations and/or
titers of the biomarkers is compared, this is indicative that the
subject is suffering from or is at risk for developing Niemann-Pick
disease, and/or preferably Niemann-Pick disease type A and B,
Niemann-Pick disease type C, and/or Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier; and/or wherein if said ratio of two levels, concentrations
and/or titers of the biomarkers of the present invention is
decreased or lower compared to o the cut-off value to which the
ratio of two levels, concentrations and/or titers of the biomarkers
is compared, this is indicative that the subject is not suffering
from or is not at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease.
[0392] In one particular embodiment thereof
[0393] using compound 509 as the biomarker allows for [0394]
diagnosing NP type A and B using a cut-off value for compound 509
of 5 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 96.1%;
and/or [0395] diagnosing NP type C using a cut-off value for
compound 509 of 1.7 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 97.2% and a
specificity of 93.3%; and/or [0396] diagnosing NP type C carrier
using a cut-off value for compound 509 of 0.031 ng/ml with a
sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 22.5%;
[0397] using free lyso-sphingomyelin as the additional biomarker
allows for [0398] diagnosing NP type A and B using a cut-off value
for free lyso-sphingomyelin of 59 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 94.4%
and a specificity of 99.3%; and/or [0399] diagnosing NP type C
using a cut-off value for free lyso-sphingomyelin of 9.23 ng/ml
with a sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 81.3%; and/or
[0400] diagnosing NP type C carrier using a cut-off value for free
lyso-sphingomyelin of 6.5 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 100% and a
specificity of 61.2%; and
[0401] using the ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin allows for [0402] diagnosing NP type A and
B using a cut-off value for the ratio of the level of compound 509
to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin of 0.045 with a sensitivity
of 94.4% and a specificity of 82.1%; and/or [0403] diagnosing NP
type C using a cut-off value for the ratio of the level of compound
509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin of 0.087 with a
sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 95.5%.
[0404] The term "ratio" as used herein preferably means that
between two numbers of the same kind, such as the levels of two
biomarkers of the present invention, such as the levels of compound
509 and compound 465, a relationship exists which is usually
expressed as "a to b", "a:b" or "the ratio of a to b", for example
"the ratio of the levels of compound 509 to compound 465". More
preferably "ratio" indicates how many times the first number, i.e.
"a" contains the second, i.e. "b", wherein said ratio is not
necessarily an integer. In other words if for example "the ratio of
the level of compound 509 to compound 465" is concerned the value
representing the level of compound 509 is divided by the value
representing the level of 465.
[0405] In connection therewith it has to be noted that it is the
merit of the present inventors having recognized that the
relationship of two biomarkers is of diagnostic value, the
comparison of which to a respective cut-off value allows for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, more particularly, Niemann-Pick
disease type C. It will be thus immediately understood that said
relationship between the levels of two biomarkers according to the
present invention may be expressed and/or processed by various
mathematical operations and/or various mathematical models may be
applied to one level or both levels of the two biomarkers.
Accordingly, it is within the present invention that mathematical
operations and/or various mathematical models are applied to one or
more level(s) of biomarkers determined according to the present
invention. As an example the reciprocal value of a ratio of the
level of two biomarkers may be used instead of the ratio
itself.
[0406] In some embodiments of the present invention the level of
the biomarker is also determined in a control. As used herein, a
control is preferably a sample from a subject wherein the
Niemann-Pick disease status of said subject is known. In an
embodiment a control is a sample of a healthy patient. In a further
embodiment an amount of said biomarker is added to said sample of a
healthy patient prior to determining the level of said biomarker in
said sample of a healthy patient comprising said added biomarker
with a method of the present invention. In a further embodiment the
control is a sample from at least one subject having a known
Niemann-Pick disease status, such known Niemann-Pick disease status
comprising severe, mild, or healthy Niemann-Pick disease status,
e.g. a control patient. In a further preferred embodiment the
Niemann-Pick disease status also comprises the type of Niemann-Pick
disease, more preferably comprising Niemann-Pick disease type A, B,
C, and in a still further preferred embodiment also comprises the
genetic status with regard to mutations of the genes, affected ins
said diseases, comprising SMPD1, NPC1 and NPC2, i.e. comprising the
subject having homozygous and/or compound heterozygous mutations,
the subject being a carrier of a mutation.
[0407] In a further preferred embodiment the control is a sample
from a subject not being treated for Niemann-Pick disease. In a
still further preferred embodiment the control is a sample from a
single subject or a pool of samples from different subjects and/or
samples taken from the subject(s) at different time points.
[0408] The term "level" or "level of a biomarker" as used herein,
preferably means the concentration of a substance and/or titer of a
substance, preferably of a biomarker of the invention and more
preferably of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, within a
sample of a subject. It will be understood by a skilled person that
in certain embodiments said sample is not necessarily subjected to
a method of the invention as a non-processed sample, the method
comprising determining a level of said biomarker, i.e. said sample
may be subjected, e.g. to a step of protein precipitation,
separation, e.g. centrifugation and/or HPLC and subsequently
subjected to a step of determining the level of the biomarker, e.g.
using mass spectrometric analysis. It should be further noted that
whenever the term "a" level of a biomarker is used in connection
with a level of the biomarker of the invention which is to be
determined according to the present invention, "the" level of the
biomarker of the present invention which is to be determined by the
methods of to the present invention and which is contained in the
sample subjected to the method(s) of the invention is meant.
[0409] The level of a biomarker is different between different
statuses of Niemann-Pick disease, if the mean or median level of
the biomarker in the different groups is calculated to be
statistically significant. Common tests for statistical
significance include, among others, t-test, ANOVA, Wilcoxon,
Mann-Whitney, odds ratio and Kruskal-Wallis. Biomarkers, alone or
in combination, provide measures of relative risk that a subject
belongs to one phenotypic status or another. Therefore, biomarkers
of the present invention are useful in an embodiment of the present
invention as markers for disease, therapeutic effectiveness of a
drug or a treatment.
[0410] The term "determining the level" of a biomarker as used
herein, preferably means methods which include quantifying an
amount of at least one substance in a sample from a subject and/or
quantifying an amount of said substance contained in a part of the
body of the subject, such as saliva, blood, lymph, serum, plasma or
liquor and/or quantifying an amount of said substance in the
subject, the substance being selected from the group comprising a
biomarker.
[0411] It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that
detecting and/or determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509 in a sample from the subject, thus preferably
comprises that sphingomyelin present in the blood of a subject is
not chemically converted, transformed or derivatized such that free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 cannot be detected and/or
the level thereof cannot be determined separate from and/or apart
from sphingomyelin. The person skilled in the art will acknowledge
that sphingomyelin present in a sample from a subject which is
subjected to a step of deacetylation, e.g. by hydrolysis in
methanolic sodium hydroxide, will result in cleavage of the fatty
acid moiety from the sphingomyelin and thus will undesirably result
in a chemically converted, transformed or derivatized form of
sphingomyelin which cannot be differentiated from free
lyso-sphingomyelin. It is thus the merit of the present inventors
to recognize that free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 apart
from sphingomyelin is useful in a method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease.
[0412] In a preferred embodiment of the methods of the present
invention the method is for detecting and/or determining the level
of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 in a sample from a
subject, wherein sphingomyelin present in the sample from the
subject is not subjected to a step resulting in deacetylation of
sphingomyelin, preferably is not subjected to a step resulting in
cleavage off of a fatty acid moiety from the sphingomyelin
contained in the sample. In a further preferred embodiment of the
method of the present invention sphingomyelin present in the sample
from the subject is not chemically converted, transformed or
derivatized. In a still further preferred embodiment of the method
of the present invention free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 present in the sample from the subject is separated from
sphingomyelin present in the sample from the subject prior to a
step that would result in cleavage of a fatty acid moiety from the
sphingomyelin and/or prior to a step in which sphingomyelin is
chemically converted, transformed or derivatized. In a still
further preferred embodiment a step of detecting and/or determining
the level of a biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, is
performed subsequent to separation using HPLC by application of
mass spectrometric analysis.
[0413] In an embodiment of the methods of the invention a subject
will be considered to be healthy regarding Niemann-Pick disease
type A or B, if it has no mutation of the functional parts of the
SMPD1 gene and/or no mutation of the SMPD1 gene resulting in a
reduction of or deficiency of the respective protein or the
activity thereof, resulting in symptoms associated with
Niemann-Pick disease type A or B.
[0414] A subject is considered to be a healthy subject with regard
to Niemann-Pick disease, if the subject does not suffer from
symptoms associated with Niemann-Pick disease. Moreover in an
embodiment of the methods of the invention a subject will be
considered to be healthy regarding Niemann-Pick disease type C, if
it has no mutation of the functional parts of the NPC1 and NPC2
genes and/or no mutation of the NPC1 and NPC2 genes resulting in a
reduction of or deficiency of the respective proteins or the
activity thereof, resulting in symptoms associated with
Niemann-Pick disease type C. In certain embodiments of the methods
of the present invention, the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier is concerned. In connection therewith it is
important to understand that such patient being a carrier of a
mutation as outlined above is not considered to be a healthy
subject within the meaning of the present invention although said
carrier may not suffer from symptoms associated with Niemann-Pick
disease. In certain embodiments of the methods of the present
invention Niemann-Pick disease also comprises Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier. It is important to note that the methods of the
invention are equally suitable to identify a Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier. The method of the present invention is suitable to
diagnose whether or whether not a subject is a Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier. The method of the present invention is further
suitable for differentiating, diagnosing and/or differentially
diagnosing whether a subject is healthy, is a Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier or is a Niemann-Pick disease patient, more
particularly preferably a Niemann-Pick disease type A/B patient
and/or a Niemann-Pick disease type C patient.
[0415] Said mutations, i.e. mutations of SMPD1, NPC1 or NPC2, will
be detected if a sample from the subject is subjected to a genetic
testing for such mutations as described herein. In a further
embodiment of the present invention a sample from a healthy subject
is used as a control sample or as a blank matrix in the methods of
the present invention. A blank matrix as used herein is preferably
a sample from a healthy subject. Nevertheless it will be understood
that such a blank matrix may contain a native level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509.
[0416] In an embodiment of the present invention the level of a
biomarker is indicative for the subject for suffering from or for
being at risk for developing a disease or disorder. The level of
the biomarker determined by the method according to the present
invention is compared to a control level of the biomarker, wherein
the result of said comparison allows for diagnosing a disease.
[0417] More specifically, comparing the level of the biomarker in
the sample from the subject to the control level of the biomarker
comprises comparing the level of the biomarker in the sample from
the subject to a cut-off value, wherein if a level of the biomarker
in the sample from the subject is elevated, increased or higher
compared to the cut-off value, this is indicative that the subject
is suffering from or is at risk for developing Niemann-Pick
disease, and/or preferably Niemann-Pick disease type A and B,
Niemann-Pick disease type C, and/or Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier; and/or wherein if a level of the biomarker in the sample
from the subject is decreased or lower compared to the cut-off
value this is indicative that the subject is not suffering from or
is not at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease.
[0418] The same applies if a ratio of two biomarkers according to
the present invention is compared to a cut-off value, wherein if a
level of the biomarker in the sample from the subject is elevated,
increased or higher compared to the cut-off value, this is
indicative that the subject is suffering from or is at risk for
developing Niemann-Pick disease, and/or preferably Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C, and/or
Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier, most preferably Niemann-Pick
disease type C.
[0419] The term "being at risk for developing a disease" as used
herein preferably means that it is likely that a subject suffer
from said disease and/or will develop said disease or symptoms
associated with said disease, particularly if no treatment is
applied. In connection therewith it has to be acknowledged that
LSDs are genetic disorders and thus the occurrence of relatives,
particularly parents having said disease or having a mutation known
to be the cause of said disease are indicative for a subject, e.g.
the child of two Niemann-Pick-disease type C patients, to be at
risk for developing said disease. It will be furthermore
acknowledged that the progression of a disease is linked to the
occurrence of symptoms as well as the severity of said symptoms.
Accordingly, a person not suffering from symptoms at present,
however, may be at risk for developing the disease, for example,
because although genetically mutations of a gene, known to cause a
disease are present, no symptoms or no severe symptoms occur.
Nevertheless, it will be immediately understood that the methods
and biomarkers of the present invention, particularly if the
level(s) of said biomarker(s) according to the present invention
are elevated, allow for diagnosing that such subject is at risk for
developing the disease independent from the presence or absence of
symptoms. Accordingly, the methods according to the present
invention allows for determining whether a subject is at risk of
suffering from Niemann-Pick disease. It is also within the present
invention that a therapy is applied, maintained, reduced, elevated
or not applied based on whether the subject is at risk of suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease or not.
[0420] It is also within the present invention that comparing the
level of the biomarker in the sample from the subject to a control
level allows for determining the severity of Niemann-Pick disease,
wherein if a level of the biomarker in the sample from the subject
is elevated, increased or higher compared to the control level that
is indicative that the subject is suffering from or is at risk for
developing Niemann-Pick disease of a more severe status or
progression; and wherein if a level of the biomarker in the sample
from the subject is decreased or lower compared to the control
level that is indicative that the subject is suffering from or is
at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease of a less severe status
or progression. In a further embodiment of the present invention
that comparing the level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject to the control level comprises comparing a level of the
biomarker in said subject to a level of the biomarker detected in a
sample from a control, wherein if a level of the biomarker in the
sample from the subject is elevated, increased or higher compared
to the control sample this is indicative that the subject is
suffering from and/or is at risk for developing Niemann-Pick
disease; and/or a level of the biomarker in the sample from the
subject is elevated, increased or higher compared to the control
sample this is indicative that the subject is suffering from or is
at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease of a more severe status
or progression. Said control preferably is selected from the group
comprising healthy subjects, subjects suffering from Niemann-Pick
disease or being at risk of suffering from Niemann-Pick disease
symptoms, subjects being positively tested for a mutation or a
combination of mutations of the genes SMPD1, NPC1 and NPC2, wherein
the mutation or the combination of mutations of the genes SMPD1,
NPC1 and NPC2 are indicative for a perspective of the subject to
develop Niemann-Pick disease type C of a more severe or less severe
status or progression. In a further embodiment of the present
invention that a control level is determined in a sample from a
control, wherein optionally free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 is added to the sample from the control in a specific quantity
prior to determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or
compound 509 in the sample from the control.
[0421] It is the merit of the present inventors that a method for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject could be established
wherein the method comprises detecting a biomarker in a sample from
a subject, wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or
compound 509, preferably further comprising determining a level of
the biomarker in the sample from the subject, and more preferably
further comprising comparing the level of the biomarker in the
sample from the subject to a cut-off value, which shows high
sensitivity, i.e. a sensitivity of at least 99.0%, 99.1%, 99.2%,
99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9% or 100%. In other
words the sensitivity, which means the proportion of actual
positives which are correctly identified as such is high, which
means that the percentage of Niemann-Pick disease patients
correctly identified as having the disease is as high as has been
outlined above. In contrast, in a statistic test as described
herein specificity means the proportion of negatives which are
correctly identified as negatives, in other words the percentage of
healthy patients correctly identified as not having Niemann-Pick
disease. A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that thus an
optimal prediction of a diagnostic test such as in some embodiments
of the methods according to the present invention in general aims
to achieve 100% sensitivity, i.e. predict all patients having a
disease, such as Niemann-Pick disease or being at risk of suffering
from said disease, as having the disease or being at risk from
suffering from said disease, respectively.
[0422] In an embodiment of the methods according to the present
invention a specificity of at least 80.0%, 85.0%, 90.0%, 95.0%,
97.5%, 99.0%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%,
99.8%, 99.9% or 100% is preferred. In a further embodiment of the
present invention of the methods according to the present invention
the methods allow for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
independent from a progression status of Niemann-Pick disease in
the subject. More specifically, the methods of the present
invention allow for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject
having an early status of Niemann-Pick disease as well as in a
subject having an advanced or progressed status of Niemann-Pick
disease.
[0423] The power of a method to correctly diagnose Niemann-Pick
disease, more particularly Niemann-Pick disease type A and B or
Niemann-Pick disease type C or Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier,
is commonly measured as the sensitivity of the method, the
specificity of the method or the area under a receiver operated
characteristic curve (also referred to herein as "ROC curve"). An
ROC curve is a plot of the true positive rate against the false
positive rate for the different possible cut-off values of a
diagnostic method. An ROC curve shows the relationship between
sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity is the percentage of true
positives that are predicted by a test to be positive, while
specificity is the percentage of true negatives that are predicted
by a test to be negative. An ROC-curve provides the sensitivity of
a test as a function of 1-specificity. The greater the area under
the ROC-curve the more powerful the predictive value of the test.
Accordingly, an increase in sensitivity will be accompanied by a
decrease in specificity. The closer the curve follows the left axis
and then the top edge of the ROC space, the more accurate the test.
Conversely, the closer the curve comes to the 45-degree diagonal of
the ROC graph, the less accurate the test. Therefore, the area
under the ROC is a measure of test accuracy. The accuracy of the
test depends on how well the test separates the group being tested
into those with and without the disease in question. An area under
the curve (also referred to herein as "AUC") of 1 represents a
perfect method, while an area of 0.5 represents a less useful
method. Thus, preferred diagnostic methods of the present invention
have an AUC greater then 0.50, more preferred methods have an AUC
greater than 0.9 and most preferred methods have an AUC greater
than 0.97.
[0424] Other useful and suitable measures for the utility of a
method are positive predictive value and negative predictive value.
A positive predictive value is the percentage of actual positives
that test as positive. A negative predictive value is the
percentage of actual negatives that test as negative.
[0425] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that although
the specificity and/or the sensitivity of the methods according to
the present invention are as high as described above and were
determined as described in the Examples hereinafter, individual
cases may not be excluded where a patient having Niemann-Pick
disease will be tested false negative or where a patient not having
Niemann-Pick disease will be tested false positive with a method of
the invention. A person skilled in the art will thus immediately
acknowledge that according to the methods according to the present
invention, wherein a level of a biomarker or a ratio of levels of
two biomarkers is compared to a cut-off value and wherein said
comparison to said cut-off value is for use to differentially
diagnose a disease, comprising each and any one of Niemann-Pick
disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick
disease type C carrier, said cut-off value represents a level of
said biomarker and/or a value of said ratio which discriminates a
particularly disease from another, e.g. which discriminates a level
of a biomarker indicative that the subject has Niemann-Pick disease
type A or B from a level of a biomarker indicative that the subject
has Niemann-Pick disease type C, and/or from a level and/or a value
in a healthy subject. Having said this, it is obvious for the
person skilled in the art that also according to the methods of the
present invention, wherein the method is for differentially
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease type A and B, Niemann-Pick disease
typeC and/or Niemann-Pick disease type C carrier individual cases
may not be excluded where a patient having Niemann-Pick disease
will be tested false negative or where a patient not having
Niemann-Pick disease will be tested false positive, or where the
type and/or status is diagnosed incorrectly with a method of the
invention.
[0426] Taking said cases into account while determining the
specificity and the sensitivity of the method according to the
present invention, the specificity and the sensitivity will be
lower than the above described values. Nevertheless, the person
skilled in the art will also acknowledge that such high specificity
and such high sensitivity as has been outlined above has never been
described before for a method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease.
Therefore it is important to note that although the sensitivity and
the specificity of the method of the present invention may vary if
patient collectives other than the one reported in the Example
part, e.g. varying in number of patients, will are subject to the
methods of the present invention, it is the firm belief of the
inventors that no method known in the prior art using, especially
using biomarkers will achieve a higher specificity and a higher
sensitivity compared to the methods according to the present
invention. This is especially true since the limit of detection of
the methods of the present invention allows for determining the
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509 in healthy
subjects. Accordingly, a diseased subject tested false negative
applying the methods of the present invention is tested false
negative for the reason that a level of the biomarker in a sample
from said false negative tested diseased subject is as high as the
level of the biomarker in a sample from a healthy subject. In
particular it is important to note that said false negative tested
subject is not tested negative for the reason that the level of the
biomarker was too low to be determined by the method of the present
invention.
[0427] A "limit of detection" of a substance such as free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, as used herein, preferably
is a level of the substance determined by a method for determining
a level of the substance, wherein a level less then or lower then
said limit of detection cannot be determined by said method. It is
thus immediately clear that a "cut-off value" and a "limit of
detection", as used herein, are preferably not necessarily
identical, although both reflect a certain level of a substance,
e.g. of a biomarker of the present invention. It will be
immediately understood that in contrast to a cut-off value will be
selected preferably such that selectivity and sensitivity of the
method are as high as possible. In contrast thereto a limit of
detection represents an absolute level of the biomarker of the
present invention which reflects the minimum level of biomarker
which can be detected with a method for determining the level of
said biomarker. It is thus immediately clear that a limit of
detection depends on the method for determining a level of a
substance and on the substance the level of which is to be
determined by the method. A skilled person will immediately
understand that a high limit of detection, e.g. higher than an
ideal cut-off value would possibly result in a low sensitivity of
the method since the percentage of true positives that are
predicted by a test to be positive also depends on whether a level
of the biomarker may be determined for said true positives. In
other words, if the limit of detection is higher than an ideal
cut-off value, true positives having a level of the biomarker
slightly higher than the cut-off value may not be distinguished
from true negatives having a level of the biomarker lower than the
cut-off value since no level of the biomarker may be determined for
both true positives having a level of the biomarker slightly higher
than the cut-off value and negatives having a level of the
biomarker lower than the cut-off value. It is thus immediately
clear that a low limit of detection is of advantage. It is
therefore also the merit of the inventors to show that a lower
limit of detection allows for a method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick
disease in a subject comprising a step of determining a level of a
biomarker present in the sample with higher selectivity and
sensitivity. An "ideal cut-off value" as used herein, preferably is
the cut-off value as described herein the method using said ideal
cut-off value has the highest selectivity and sensitivity.
[0428] It is an embodiment of the methods according to the present
invention to comprise a step of validating said method by
diagnosing a disease or disorder, preferably Niemann-Pick disease
in a subject by the method of the present invention; a step of
diagnosing the disease or disorder, preferably Niemann-Pick
disease, in a subject by a genetic testing, comprising sequencing
of a gene, preferably sequencing of a gene a mutation of which is
known to the one skilled in the art to cause the disease or
disorder, more preferably sequencing the NPC1 and NPC2 genes in
case of Niemann-Pick disease type C and Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier and the gene SMPD1 in case of Niemann-Pick disease type A
and B; and comparing the results of said method and said genetic
testing. A healthy subject as used herein, preferably is considered
to be healthy with regard to a disease or disorder if said subject
is not suffering from symptoms associated with said disease or
disorder and if the result of a genetic testing reveals no
mutations of a gene a mutation of which is known to the one skilled
in the art to cause the disease or disorder. A healthy subject also
is understood to be a subject being positively tested for not
having Niemann-Pick disease. In a preferred embodiment a healthy
subject is a subject not being a carrier of Niemann-Pick disease,
more preferably not being a Niemann-Pick disease type C
carrier.
[0429] The term "qualifying Niemann-Pick disease status" in a
subject as used herein, preferably means a classification of a
subject's biomarker profile selected from the group comprising to
identify or detect the presence or absence of Niemann-Pick disease
in the subject, to predict the onset of or the risk for developing
of Niemann-Pick disease in the subject, to determine the course of
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, to determine and/or predict the
severity of Niemann-Pick disease in a subject, to determine whether
a subject suffers from an early status of Niemann-Pick disease or
an advanced or progressed status of Niemann-Pick disease or to
determine whether a level of a biomarker in a subject has
significantly changed over time.
[0430] The term "managing subject treatment" or "subject
management" as used herein, preferably refers to the behavior of
the clinician or physician subsequent to the determination of
Niemann-Pick disease status. For example, if the result of the
method according to the present invention is inconclusive or there
is reason that confirmation of status is necessary, the physician
may order new tests, such as testing for the function of the
affected proteins and/or sequencing of the SMPD1, NPC1 and NPC2
genes, respectively. Alternatively, if the status indicates that
treating for Niemann-Pick disease is appropriate, the physician may
schedule the subject for treating for Niemann-Pick disease type A
and B or Niemann-Pick disease type C. Likewise, if the status is
negative or if the results show that treatment has been successful,
no further management may be necessary. Nevertheless a person
skilled in the art will immediately acknowledge that besides gene
therapy any therapy applied. Furthermore it is an embodiment of the
present invention that managing subject treatment comprises
titrating of a dose of a drug applied as a treatment for
Niemann-Pick disease, e.g. units of recombinant enzyme applied in
ERT, administered to a patient. In some embodiments of the methods
of the present invention wherein a level of a biomarker present in
a sample from a subject and/or a ratio of the levels of two
biomarkers is determined at several points in time, or is compared
to other levels of the biomarker, a cut-off value and/or a level of
said biomarker in a control and/or another value of a ratio of the
levels of two biomarkers, a skilled person will apply or not apply
a therapy, or amend a therapy already applied in order to treat or
not to treat, or to continue treating Niemann-Pick disease.
[0431] It is within the present invention that a skilled person
will apply a dosage and/or maintain a dosage or amend a dosage,
e.g. apply a dosage or a higher dosage, i.e. elevate a dosage, if
such a comparison of the level of a biomarker and/or the ratio of
the levels of two biomarkers shows e.g. that the level of said
biomarker and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers is
higher than for example, a cut-off value, i.e. the patient is
diagnosed to have Niemann-Pick disease; or that a level and/or
ratio determined in the same patient earlier in time is lower or
the same, i.e. a therapy applied is not sufficient, i.e. does not
result in a decrease in the level. On the other hand skilled person
will apply or not apply a dosage or maintain or reduce a dosage,
e.g. apply no dosage or a lower dosage, i.e. decrease a dosage, if
such a comparison of the level and/or the ratio of the level of
a/two biomarker shows e.g. that the level of said biomarker and/or
the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers is lower than for
example, a cut-off value, i.e. the patient is diagnosed not to have
Niemann-Pick disease; or that a level and/or a ratio determined in
the same patient earlier in time is higher, i.e. a therapy applied
is sufficient, i.e. does result in a decrease in the level. In an
embodiment of the present invention a relatively high level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 based on such a comparison
is indicative for applying a high dosage of recombinant enzyme
applied in ERT and/or a relatively low level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 based on such a comparison
is indicative for applying a low dosage of recombinant enzyme
applied in ERT. Nevertheless it will also be immediately understood
that a skilled person will consider a patient's history, i.e. a
skilled person managing subject treatment of a patient suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease and being treated such that a level of
biomarker and/or a ratio of the levels of two biomarkers is lower
than a cut-off value, for example, will not decide to stop
treatment rather than decrease a dosage and increase the time
between further applications of the methods of the present
invention.
[0432] The course of Niemann-Pick disease may be determined by the
method according to the present invention by determining a level of
the biomarker and/or a ratio of the levels of two biomarkers in the
sample from the subject at different time points in the course of
the disease. It is important to note that a single application of a
method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease according to the present
invention allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease and in certain
embodiments comprises a step of managing subject treatment based on
the diagnosis of whether the subject is suffering from or for being
at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease. If a subject a sample
of which is thus subjected to the method of the present invention
is tested positive for suffering from or to be at risk for
developing Niemann-Pick disease a skilled clinician will know how
to decide concerning managing subject treatment, i.e. how the
subject will be treated, e.g. applying a certain dose of enzyme in
relation to an ERT. It will be immediately understood that
independent of the decision of a skilled clinician on how to manage
subject treatment the skilled clinician may decide for at least one
additional application of the method according to the present
invention on a later time point. It is thus an embodiment of the
present invention that the levels of the biomarker and/or a ratio
of the levels of two biomarkers determined at the different time
points, wherein different time points means at least two time
points, may be compared. Without wishing to be bound by any theory
the present inventors have found that the level of the biomarker of
the present invention and/or a ratio of the levels of two
biomarkers in samples form one particular patient may be correlated
to the severity of the disease in said patient at the time point
the sample from the patient is taken. It will be thus immediately
understood that an elevated level of the biomarker and/or an
elevated ratio of the levels of two biomarkers determined in the
sample of a later time point compared to the level of the biomarker
and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers determined in the
sample of an earlier time point is indicative for a more severe
status of the subject at the later time point compared to the
status of the subject at the earlier time point. A decreased level
of the biomarker and/or ratio of the levels of two biomarkers
determined in the sample of a later time point compared to the
level and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers of the
biomarker determined in the sample of an earlier time point is
indicative for a less severe status of the subject at the later
time point compared to the status of the subject at the earlier
time point. Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention
provides a method for determining the course of Niemann-Pick
disease in a subject comprising the step of determining at several
points in time a level of a biomarker and/or a ratio of the levels
of two biomarkers present in a sample from the subject, wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509. In a
further aspect the invention concerns a method for determining the
effectiveness of at least one treatment applied to a subject being
positively tested for suffering from or being at risk for
developing Niemann-Pick disease comprising the step of determining
at several points in time a level of a biomarker and/or a ratio of
the levels of two biomarkers present in a sample from the subject,
wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509. It will be immediately understood by a person skilled in the
art that the methods of the present invention thus allow for
selecting a therapy and/or adjusting the doses and/or dosage of a
selected therapy based on the results of the method of the
invention. If for example the subject is scheduled for treating for
Niemann-Pick disease the method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease
in a subject according to the present invention may be applied
every 3 months and levels of the biomarker and/or a ratio of the
levels of two biomarkers thus determined will be compared in order
to determine the effectiveness of the treatment(s) and/or
therapy/therapies applied to the subject. If the subject reaches a
status, wherein a stable level of the biomarker and/or a stable
ratio of the levels of two biomarkers is maintained over time the
frequency of application of the method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick
disease in a subject according to the present invention may be
reduced to every 6 month. If the dosage of the therapy is changed,
e.g. the units of recombinant enzyme applied in ERT are reduced or
increased, the frequency of application of the method for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject according to the
present invention may be set back to every 3 month. By comparison
of the determined levels of the biomarker and/or ratios of the
levels of two biomarkers in the samples from the subject the
skilled physician will recognize whether the level of the biomarker
and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers increases,
decreases or whether a stable level of the biomarker and/or a
stable ratio of the levels of two biomarkers is maintained over
time. Accordingly, the skilled physician may decide to reduce the
dosage of the therapy, e.g. the units of recombinant enzyme applied
in ERT; to increase the dosage of the therapy; or to maintain the
dosage of the therapy according to the comparison of the levels of
the biomarker and/or the ratios of the levels of two biomarkers
determined with the method according to the present invention. A
reduction of about 60% of the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509 within a period of 12 month is indicative for a
successful therapy for Niemann-Pick disease, wherein reduction as
used herein, preferably means that the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 determined by the method of
the present invention determined at the end of a time period is
compared to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 determined by the method of the present invention determined at
the beginning of said time period. Accordingly the skilled
physician may decide to reduce the dosage of the applied therapy or
to maintain the dosage of the therapy. If the reduction of the
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 is
significantly weaker the skilled physician may decide to increase
the dosage of the therapy. It is also a merit of the present
inventors to have recognized that the reduction of the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin and the reduction of compound 509
correlates with the effectiveness of a therapy. The stronger the
reduction of the level of the free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or the
stronger the reduction of the level of the compound 509 within a
time period, e.g. 12 months, the more successful is a therapy, such
as for example ERT, SRT or a chaperone based therapy. It is thus a
further embodiment of the present invention that the method of the
present invention is for comparing the effectiveness of a therapy
or of at least two therapies applied to a subject.
[0433] A person skilled in the art thus will acknowledge that the
progression, i.e. course of Niemann-Pick disease, as well as the
effectiveness of a therapy in a single subject can be monitored by
frequent determining of the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or
compound 509 and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers in
samples from the subject.
[0434] In a further aspect the invention concerns a method for
determining the effectiveness of at least one treatment applied to
a subject being positively tested for suffering from or being at
risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease comprising the step of
determining at several points in time a level of a biomarker and/or
the ratio of the level of two biomarkers present in a sample from
the subject, wherein the biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509. In connection with what has been outlined
above in relation to managing subject treatment a person skilled in
the art will immediately understand that the effectiveness of one
treatment or the combination of at least two treatments may be
compared applying the methods of the present invention. Thus it is
possible to test and compare several new drugs, dosage forms,
dosages or treatments for Niemann-Pick disease by the method of the
present invention.
[0435] It is an embodiment of the present invention that the method
for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease according to the present
invention is independent of whether the subject has or has not been
previously treated for Niemann-Pick disease. Thus the sample from
the subject may be a sample from a subject who has been previously
treated for Niemann-Pick disease as well as a sample from a subject
who has not been previously treated for Niemann-Pick disease. It is
thus a further embodiment of the present invention that the method
of the present invention comprises a step of managing subject
treatment and/or determining a level of the biomarker and/or a
ratio of the levels of two biomarkers in the sample from the
subject after subject management. Said subject treatment can be
based on the diagnosis of whether the subject is suffering from or
for being at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease; on the
detection of the biomarker in a sample from the subject after
subject management; or on the determining of the level of the
biomarker and/or the ratio of the levels of two biomarkers in the
sample from the subject after subject management. Nevertheless a
person skilled in the art will understand that a sample of some
patients not having Niemann-Pick disease or of some patients being
successfully treated for Niemann-Pick disease will show a level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509 lower than the limit of
detection.
[0436] Without wishing to be bound by any theory the present
inventors assume that the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and the
level of compound 509 and the ratio of the level of compound 509 to
the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, present in a
sample from a subject further correlates with the severity of the
disease in a subject suffering from Niemann-Pick disease. In
connection therewith the present inventors assume that although, in
principle, the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, the level of
compound 509 and/or the ratio of the level of compound 509 to the
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is different in particular
individuals, and more specifically may be different in particular
individuals having the same mutation(s), that the higher is a level
of free lyso-sphingomyelin, a level of compound 509 and a ratio of
the level of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
respectively, the higher is the severity of a course of
Niemann-Pick disease in terms of a statistical mean according to a
clinical score. Thereby the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, the
level of compound 509 and/or the ratio of the level of compound 509
to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, correlates
with the severity of Niemann-Pick disease in that in patients being
positively tested for distinct mutations of the SMPD1, NPC1 and
NPC2 genes, respectively, being known to generally causes a mild or
a more severe course of Niemann-Pick disease, a level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin, a level of compound 509 and/or a ratio of the
level of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
respectively, determined in said patients statistically correlates
with the severity generally related to such mutation.
[0437] Thus a further embodiment of the different aspects of the
present invention concerns a method for determining the severity of
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject comprising a step of [0438] a)
determining a level of the biomarker and/or a ratio of the levels
two biomarkers present in a sample from the subject wherein the
biomarker is free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 and a step
of [0439] b) determining the severity of Niemann-Pick disease, e.g.
by comparing the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 and/or the ratio of the levels two biomarkers in a subject
preferably determined by a method of the present invention to a
clinical score.
[0440] In connection therewith it is important to note that if a
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, the level of compound 509 and/or
the ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, is determined in samples from the
patients suffering from Niemann-Pick disease showing a mutation
usually linked to a more severe course of Niemann-Pick disease upon
sequencing of the respective gene (homozygous and compound
heterozygous) subjected to a method of the present invention a
mean-level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, compound 509 and/or the
ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, is higher than the mean-level of
the free lyso-sphingomyelin, compound 509 and/or the ratio of the
level of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
respectively, determined in samples from the patients suffering
from Niemann-Pick disease showing a mutation usually linked to a
more mild course of Niemann-Pick disease upon sequencing of the
respective gene, applying the same method. A "mutation usually
linked to a more severe course of Niemann-Pick disease" as used
herein preferably is known to cause a more severe course of
Niemann-Pick disease--this is especially true in case the subject
is homozygous as to said mutation. Corresponding to that in an
embodiment a higher mean-level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, compound
509 and/or the ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, is determined in the
homozygous compared to the homozygous mutation usually linked to a
more mild course of Niemann-Pick disease. Moreover patients having
a compound heterozygous usually linked to a more severe course of
Niemann-Pick disease have a significant lower free
lyso-sphingomyelin level, compound 509 level and/or ratio of the
level of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
respectively, than homozygous ones. A person skilled in the art
will know clinical scores to categorize the severity of
Niemann-Pick disease or symptoms or an entirety of symptoms
thereof. It is thus an embodiment of the method of the present
invention that the course of Niemann-Pick disease in a patient is
predicted and more particularly the severity of Niemann-Pick
disease is determined based on the level of the biomarker
determined according to the method of the present invention.
[0441] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that a level of
the biomarker of the present invention determined in a sample from
a subject wherein said level of the biomarker is correlated with
the severity of Niemann-Pick disease as described above, will be
indicative for applying a certain therapy and/or dose or dosage of
said therapy. For example, if the level of the biomarker and/or the
ratio of the levels of two biomarkers determined according to the
methods of the invention is correlated with "severe" Niemann-Pick
disease status the subject is scheduled for treatment of
Niemann-Pick disease and the method for diagnosing Niemann-Pick
disease in a subject according to the present invention may be
applied every 3 months and levels of the biomarker thus determined
will be compared in order to determine the effectiveness of the
treatment(s) and/or therapy/therapies applied to the subject. If
the subject reaches a status, wherein the level of the biomarker
and/or the ratio of the levels of the two biomarkers, respectively,
is correlated with a "mild" Niemann-Pick disease or wherein a
stable level and/or ratio of the biomarker is maintained over time
the frequency of application of the method for diagnosing
Niemann-Pick disease in a subject according to the present
invention may be reduced to every 6 month.
[0442] In another aspect the present invention is related to a
method of determining the effectiveness of a composition for the
treatment of Niemann-Pick disease. Such method may comprise the
steps of determining a level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or
compound 509 and/or a ratio of the level of compound 509 to the
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, in a subject having
Niemann-Pick disease; administering to said subject said compound
in an amount sufficient to determine the effectiveness of said
compound; re-determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509 and/or the ratio of the levels of compound 509
to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, in said
subject; comparing the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or
compound 509 and/or the ratio of the levels of compound 509 to the
level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, determined before
and after administering said composition, wherein a lower level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 and/or a lower ratio of
the levels of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
respectively, determined after administering said composition
compared to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 and/or the ratio of the levels of compound 509 to the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin, respectively, determined after
administering said composition indicates the effectiveness of said
compound for treating Niemann-Pick disease.
[0443] Niemann-Pick disease affects mostly children and they often
die at a young and unpredictable age, many within a few months or
years of birth. Many other children die of this disease following
years of suffering from various symptoms of their disorder.
[0444] A preferable biomarker for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease type C, would allow for
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease
type C, with high sensitivity and high specificity independent from
the age of the subject.
[0445] It is the merit of the present inventors having found that
the biomarkers of the present invention are useful for the
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease in a subject independent from the
age of the subject. It is thus an embodiment of the present
invention that the method of the present invention allows for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in a subject independent from age.
In a preferred embodiment the method of the present invention the
subject is a subject of young age. A subject of young age as used
herein preferably is a subject of less than 30 years of age, more
preferably of less than 20 years of age and most preferably of less
than 10 years of age.
[0446] The present invention is now further illustrated by the
following figures and examples from which further features,
embodiments and advantages may be taken.
[0447] More specifically,
[0448] FIG. 1 is a boxplot indicating levels of compound 465 in
ng/ml plasma;
[0449] FIG. 2 is a boxplot indicating levels of compound 509 in
ng/ml plasma;
[0450] FIG. 3 is a boxplot indicating the ratio of levels of
compound 509 to levels of compound 465;
[0451] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are graphs showing receiver operating
characteristics (ROC) for the diagnosis of NP type A and B;
[0452] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are graphs showing receiver operating
characteristics (ROC) curves for the diagnosis of NP type C;
[0453] FIG. 6 is a graph showing receiver operating characteristics
(ROC) curves of compound 465 and of compound 509 for the diagnosis
of NP type C carrier;
[0454] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing plasma levels of a biomarker of
the present invention as a function over time for a total of 6
Niemann-Pick disease type C patients and 1 Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier;
[0455] FIG. 8A is an HPLC-mass spectrometric chromatogram
displaying peak intensity of free lyso-sphingomyelin, compound 509
and IS of a healthy subject;
[0456] FIGS. 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E are HPLC-mass spectrometric
chromatograms displaying peak intensity of free lyso-sphingomyelin,
compound 509 and IS of Niemann-Pick disease type C patient;
[0457] FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are boxplots or scatterplots
indicating levels of compound 465 or compound 509 in ng/ml plasma
depending on the age of the patients.
EXAMPLES
[0458] In the Examples described in the following human plasma was
used as a sample from a subject. Nevertheless a person skilled in
the art will acknowledge that depending on the used type of sample
from a subject, e.g. comprising saliva, liquor, plasma, serum, full
blood, blood on a dry blood filter card or another blood product,
the method of the present invention has to be adjusted to the type
of sample and furthermore a cut-off value has to be determined for
each type of sample according to the method described in the
following examples. The present inventors have found that using a
sample of human serum in the method as described below instead of a
sample of human plasma will lead to identical results in terms of
the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509,
respectively, if the sample of human serum and the sample of human
plasma are taken from the same subject, at the same time point, and
if the samples were measured in parallel; and, more particularly,
will lead to the same cut-off value.
Example 1
Method for the Detection of Free Lyso-Sphingomyelin and/or Compound
509 in Human Serum
[0459] Equipment
[0460] For detecting free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or a substance
with molecular weight of 508, detected as MRM transition in
positive mode 509 m/z to 184 m/z, also referred to herein as
compound 509 in a sample of plasma from a subject the following
equipment was used.
TABLE-US-00001 Apparatus/ Piece of Equipment Type/Producer HPLC
pump Series 200, Perkin Elmer, USA Sample injector Series 200,
Perkin Elmer, USA Column oven Series 200, Perkin Elmer, USA Mass
selective detector API 4000 Q TRAP, AB SCIEX, USA/Canada Multi-tube
vortexer Henry Troemner LLC, USA DVX-2500 Vortex mixer Vortex Genie
2; Scientific Industries, USA Centrifuge Megafuge 1.0; Heraeus,
Germany Multipette(s), pipette(s) Eppendorf, Germany Water bath
SW21-C, Julabo, Germany
[0461] Reagents
[0462] For detecting free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 in
a sample of plasma from a subject the following reagents were
used.
[0463] To that extent that values depend on temperature (e.g. the
pH value) such values were determined at a temperature of
25.degree. C.
TABLE-US-00002 Reagent Purity Acetonitrile (ACN) HPLC-grade or
Gradient grade Acetone 99.5% Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) HPLC grade
Ethanol (EtOH) p.a., 96% Formic acid (FA) p.a., 98-100% Methanol
(MeOH) Gradient (LiChrosolv) Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) purum
>98% Water ASTM-I The abbreviation "p.a." as used herein means
"pro analysis". The term "purum" as used herein, preferably means a
commercial grade of a chemical compound having a purity of the
above specified value. ASTM-I as used herein refers to a water
grade standard purity achieved by purification methods comprising
Reverse Osmosis and Ultraviolet (UV) Oxidation.
[0464] Preparation of Calibration Standards
[0465] A Lyso-Sphingomyelin stock solution was prepared by
dissolving 2.16 mg Lyso-Sphingomyelin (as delivered by Matreya,
purity stated as 95.1%) in 5 mL of MeOH/water (1:4; v/v).
[0466] Subsequently the solution V1-A was prepared as a mixture of
74 .mu.L of Lyso-Sphingomyelin stock solution and 5 mL MeOH/water
(1:4; v/v) as displayed in the following:
TABLE-US-00003 Label of exp. Volume of volume of resulting conc.
solution solvent solution [.mu.g/mL] [.mu.L] solution [mL] solvent
V1-A 6.0803 74 Lyso- 5 DMSO/ Sphingomyelin- MeOH stock (1:4; v/v)
Subsequently the Calibration Standards were prepared by spiking
solution V1-Aor higher concentrated Calibration Standards into the
solvent MeOH/water (1:1; v/v).
[0467] A detailed spiking scheme will be displayed in the
following.
TABLE-US-00004 Volume volume Label of of of resulting concentration
solution solvent solution [ng/mL] [.mu.L] solution [mL] solvent
Volume [ml] Std5A- 200.26 119.2 V1-A 3.5 MeOH/water 3.0303 NPC
(1:1; v/v) Std4A- 60.002 29.9 V1-A 3 MeOH/water 3.0927 NPC (1:1;
v/v) Std3A- 18.040 297 Std5A-NPC 3 MeOH/water 3.297 NPC (1:1; v/v)
Std2A- 6.0025 92.7 Std5A-NPC 3 MeOH/water 3.0299 NPC (1:1; v/v)
Std1A- 2.0024 30.3 Std5A-NPC 3 MeOH/water 3.6192 NPC (1:1; v/v) For
calibration, all calibration standards mentioned above having five
concentration levels between 2.00 and 200 ng/mL were used.
[0468] Preparation of Control Samples
[0469] Control samples were prepared by spiking solution V1-A into
a blank matrix.
[0470] A detailed spiking scheme will be displayed in the
following.
TABLE-US-00005 Volume volume Label of of of blank resulting
concentration solution matrix Volume solution [ng/mL] [.mu.L]
solution [.mu.L] [ml] QC-A1- native 3* NPC concentration QC-B1-
100.07 50.2 V1-A 3 3.0502 NPC *native concentration is below 10
ng/mL, therefore the QC-B1-NPC level is hardly influenced.
[0471] Blank Matrix
[0472] As a blank matrix, human plasma of a healthy subject was
used. A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that said plasma
from a healthy subject will contain a native level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or a native level of compound 509. Said
native level of free lyso-sphingomyelin is about 3.9 ng/ml
according to the methods of the present invention. It is thus
obvious that control samples prepared by spiking of the blank
matrix, the blank matrix comprising said native level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509, respectively, also comprise
said native level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509 in
addition to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 obtained by spiking with a concentrated solution or higher
concentrated control sample. Accordingly, the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin in the control samples is as follows: [0473]
QC-B1-NPC 100 ng/mL+native concentration in blank matrix
[0474] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that human
plasma of a healthy subject used as blank matrix can be purchased
at any commercial source known to the one skilled in the art. It is
important to note that if accidentally plasma of a non-healthy
subject, i.e. of a subject having Niemann-Pick disease, is used as
the blank matrix, this will result in unusually high levels of free
lyso-sphingomyelin or compound 509 in the control samples
determined by the method according to the present invention and
thus will be immediately recognized, as the tolerance of the method
is determined as being within a range of 15% above or below the
estimated levels of the controls subjected to the method according
to the present invention.
[0475] Study Samples
[0476] Preparation of Internal Standard
[0477] The Internal Standard (IS1) stock solution was prepared
dissolving 1.00 mg of Lyso-Gb2 (as delivered by Matreya) in 2 mL of
DMSO/MeOH (1/1; vol/vol).
[0478] Subsequently the Internal Standard Working Solution was
prepared as a mixture of 410 .mu.L of IS1 stock solution and 500 mL
of ethanol. The ethanol may be purchased from any commercial
source, wherein the ethanol is absolute ethanol having a grade
suitable for the methods described herein. A person skilled in the
art will recognize that proteins contained in 50 .mu.l of a sample
have to precipitate if 100 .mu.L of said Internal Standard working
solution are added to the sample.
[0479] Storing of Samples and Solutions
[0480] Control samples or study samples either were immediately
stored below -20.degree. C. at once or aliquots were transferred
into new glass vials before storing under the same conditions.
[0481] Concentrated solutions (stock solutions, V1-A-534 etc.) as
well as Internal Standard stock solutions were frozen below
-20.degree. C. pending next spiking.
[0482] Internal Standard working solutions were stored between
2.degree. C. and 8.degree. C. until use.
[0483] Without wishing to be bound by any theory the present
inventors assume that free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509,
respectively, are stable in the above mentioned solutions. More
precisely, the level of lyso-sphingomyelin and the level of
compound 509 of a plasma and/or a serum sample of a Niemann-Pick
disease patient determined by the methods according to the present
invention are found to be identical, if the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and, respectively, the level of compound 509 is
determined in said samples prior to and after storage at 37.degree.
C. for 2 days. Accordingly, the solutions and samples of the
present invention can be transported in a number of ways well known
to one skilled in the art, wherein the use of a cold chain for
transportation of patient material is preferred but not necessarily
required. A person skilled in the art will also know methods and
their respective conditions for appropriate storage of solutions
and samples, wherein, for example, said solutions and samples may
be stored for several weeks.
[0484] Sample Preparation for Analysis
[0485] All samples used in an analytical batch are prepared for
analysis as follows: [0486] Frozen samples were thawed at
approximately 20 to 25.degree. C. in a water bath taking from
ambient conditions. After thawing the samples were mixed. [0487] 50
.mu.L of the sample were transferred into a sample vial [0488] 100
.mu.L of Internal Standard working solution (in EtOH) was added to
the sample [0489] The thus obtained mixture was subsequently mixed
using a DVX-2500 Multi-tube vortex device at 2500 rpm for about 30
seconds [0490] The thus obtained mixture was centrifuged for phase
separation at 4000 rpm for 2 minutes. [0491] Transfer of a volume
of the supernatant adequate to injection purposes (approx. 100
.mu.L) into appropriate (conical) auto-sampler vials
[0492] Methods
[0493] Chromatographic and Auto-Sampler Parameters
[0494] The samples prepared for analysis as described above were
subsequently subjected to the method described in the
following:
TABLE-US-00006 Parameter Scheduled range/description Mobile phase
solvent A 50 mM FA in water Mobile phase solvent B 50 mM FA in
ACN/acetone (1:1; vol/vol) Chromatographic run 0.0-4.0 min linear
5% B .fwdarw. 66% B gradient: 4.1-5.1 min isocratic: 100% B 5.1-5.9
min isocratic: 5% B Flow 0.9 mL/min Injection volume 5 .mu.L
Injector flush 0.1% TFA in 70% MeOH Column + Precolumn ACE 3 C8, 50
.times. 2.1 mm ID + Security Guard C8 Column temperature 60.degree.
C. Retention time approx. 3.2 to 3.4 min: lyso-Sphingomyelin and
lyso-Gb 2 (IS) approx. 3.6 to 3.9 min: compound 509 The ACE 3 C8
column (ACE C8 column Nr. ACE-112-0502) used herein has been
purchased from Advanced Chromatography Technologies, Aberdeen.
[0495] A sequence as used herein, preferably is a batch of defined
numbers of samples, preferably 250 in maximum analyzed
sequentially, wherein parameters comprising flow and temperature
remain unchanged. Adjustments and calibrations performed between
sequences are known to those skilled in the art and comprise
exchange of the column.
[0496] These adjustments within the specified limits are minor
changes and are recorded within the raw data of the study at the
measuring station.
[0497] Detection
[0498] The thus prepared samples were subsequently subjected to the
detection method the parameters of which are described in the
following:
TABLE-US-00007 MS Ionisation mode: Electrospray Ionisation (ESI) MS
polarity: positive MS detection mode: Multiple reaction monitoring
(MRM) Vaporizer temperature: 500.degree. C. .+-. 50.degree. C.
Ionisation voltage: 5.5 kV Collisionally activated low dissociation
(CAD) gas: Gas 1: Pressure = 45 psi Gas 2: Pressure = 60 psi
Curtain gas: pressure = 40 psi Lateral position: 5 units Vertical
position: 4 units Quadrupole resolution unit .fwdarw. unit
Transitions 465.4 .fwdarw. 184.1 m/z lyso-Sphingomyelin 624.5
.fwdarw. 282.2 m/z lyso-Gb2 (Internal Standard) 509.5 .fwdarw.
184.1 m/z compound 509 Transitions 462.4 .fwdarw. 282.2 m/z
lyso-Gbl 624.5 .fwdarw. 282.2 m/z lyso-Gb2 (Internal Standard) DP
(declustering potential) 40 V CXP (collision cell exit 8 V
potential)
[0499] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that methods
for detecting free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509, and/or
determining the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound
509 in a sample from a subject using mass spectrometric analysis
may also employ other transitions and fragments which allow for
specific detection of and/or quantification of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 in said sample from a
subject.
[0500] Evaluation and Calculation of Results
[0501] To evaluate and to calculate results obtained with the above
specified methods the following protocol were applied.
[0502] Rounding Procedure
[0503] Concentration data fed into and retrieved from the
chromatographic data system (CDS) were rounded to five significant
digits. Further calculations in the spreadsheet were performed to
full computational accuracy and subsequently rounded to the
significant digits/decimal places to be reported. Hence, deviations
of intermediate results might occur caused by rounding. Accuracy
and coefficients of variation (CV) will be reported with one and
two decimal places, respectively.
[0504] Note Referring to the Rounding Procedure:
[0505] The last digit reported would be up-rounded if the
subsequent digit was equal or greater than "5".
[0506] Regression and Statistics
[0507] Based on Calibration Standards the calibration curve fitting
were established using the data processing software by means of
peak area ratios (peak area of free lyso-phingomyelin and compound
509, respectively, contained in the sample from the subject/peak
area of Internal Standard). Free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound
509 concentrations were evaluated using an Internal Standard
methodA quadratic (y=ax.sup.2+bx+c) regression model using the
weighting factor 1/conc. will be used to calculate the
concentration of each analyte in every batch to be evaluated. The
concentrations were calculated by means of the following
formula:
concentration = - b .+-. b 2 - 4 a ( c - peak area ratio ) 2 a
##EQU00001##
[0508] Based thereon mean values, precision results (in terms of
CVs) and accuracies (formula shown below) will be calculated using
the program "Lotus 123".
accuracy ( % ) = calculated concentration expected concentration
100 ##EQU00002##
[0509] Appropriate statistical models are described in e.g. [0510]
Green, J. R., Statistical Treatment of Experimental Data (Elsevier,
New York, 1977), page 210 ff [0511] Lothar Sachs, Angewandte
Statistik--Anwendung statistischer Methoden (Springer, Berlin,
Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1984)
[0512] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that according
to a substance, the molecular structure of which is not known, a
reference item is not synthesized. The evaluation of such substance
is thus based on the peak area ratio to the Internal Standard added
to each sample and comparison between patients and healthy persons,
respectively.
[0513] Software
[0514] Data acquisition, data processing, statistics and
calculations were performed using Analyst.RTM. software 1.4.2 or
higher (AB SCIEX, USA/Canada) as well as Lotus 1-2-3 97 or higher
(Lotus Corp, USA).
[0515] Handbooks
TABLE-US-00008 Handbook Arbeiten mit SmartSuite 97 (Lotus
Development Corp., 1997) Documentation of Documentation of Analyst
.RTM. Software (AB SCIEX, software used USA/Canada): Operator's
Manual & Operator's Manual Addendum "New Functionality in
Analyst 1.2" and Online Help System Analyst 1.4 (or higher)
Example 2
Genetic Testing and Classification of Study Participants
[0516] After consenting of patients to participation in the study,
patients were subjected to a genetic testing for mutations of the
genes SMPD1, NPC1 and NPC2. Accordingly, 5 to 10 ml of EDTA blood
were sequenced according to Seeman et al. (Seeman et al., 1995).
Were appropriate other genes beside the genes SMPD1, NPC1 and NPC2
were sequenced in addition, particularly in controls. Said genetic
testing was controlled using test samples of age and sex matched
control patients.
[0517] 448 plasma samples from 304 subjects were analyzed. More
precisely, for 274 patients one plasma sample, for 14 patients two
plasma samples, and for 16 patients more than two plasma samples
were available.
[0518] According to the result of the above described genetic
testing, patients participating in the study were classified into
the following groups:
[0519] 1.) Patients having Niemann-Pick disease type A or B: gold
standard for the diagnosis was the detection of two pathogenic
mutations within the SMPD1 gene, either homozygous or compound
heterozygous (group is named in the figures as "Niemann-Pick type
A/B").
[0520] 2.) Patients having Niemann-Pick disease type C: gold
standard for the diagnosis was the detection of pathogenic
mutations within the NPC1 or NPC2 gene, either homozygous or
compound heterozygous (group is named in the figures as
"Niemann-Pick type C").
[0521] 3.) Patients being heterozygous carriers of one mutation
within the NPC1 or NPC2 gene (typically relatives of affected
patients) (group is named in the figures as "Niemann-Pick type C
carrier").
[0522] 4.) Patients with other lysosomal storage disorders as
control (group is named in the figures as "other LSD"); this
comprises patients with Krabbe disease among others. Patients being
positively tested for Gaucher's disease were grouped separately;
all diagnoses have been proven by the detection of two pathogenic
mutations.
[0523] 5.) Healthy age and gender matched controls (group is named
in the figures as "control").
[0524] The distribution of the gender of the 304 patients is
depicted in Table 1b.
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 1b 304 subjects classified by gender All N
(individuals) % total 304 Sex male 141 46.7 female 161 53.3 missing
2 --
[0525] The following table 1C shows the distribution of the age of
the 304 patients and the classification of said patients based on
the results of the above described genetic testing as well as the
gender of said patients.
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 1c Patient characteristics of 304 subjects NP
C NP A/B NP C carrier N 18 36 16 individuals % 5.9 11.8 5.3 N 19 63
26 measures Age in 2.0 17.0 47.5 years (1.0-14) (7.8-25.0)
(35.5-53.3) (median, interquartile range) (n = 11) (n = 34) (n =
14) (number of cases) m(ale) f(emale) m f m f n 9 9 17 19 8 8 % in
this subgroup 50.0 50.0 47.2 50.0 50.0 50.0 Age 1.0 10.5 14.0 19.0
47.5 47.0 (median, interquartile range) (0-11) (2.5-47.0)
(5.5-25.5) (10.0-24.0) (31.5-54.0) (38.0-52.8) other healthy
Gaucher LSDs controls N 14 114 106 individuals % 4.6 37.5 34.9 N 78
151 111 measures Age in 44.0 34.0 47.0 years (27.5-58.0)
(14.0-49.0) (36.0-54.0) (median, (n = 13) (n = 91) (n = 98)
interquartile range) (number of cases) m f m f m f n 10 4 59 53 38
68 % in this subgroup 71.4 28.6 52.7 47.3 35.8 64.2 Age 44.0 48.5
24.0 44.0 47.5 46.5 (median, (27.5-55.5) (20.8-60.5) (10.0-49.0)
(26.0-50.0) (39.3-53.0) (35.0-56.0) interquartile range)
[0526] The level of free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or compound 509 in
samples of said 304 subjects was determined according to the method
described in Example 1. Table 1d shows the mean and median levels
of free lyso-sphingomyelin and of compound 509 as well as the ratio
of the level of compound 509 to the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin in said samples of said 304 subjects.
TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 1d Median (and interquartile range) values in
different groups n 465 509 509/465 NP A/B 18 494.0 (274.6-634.8)
30.94 (17.78-41.84) 0.07 (0.06-0.10) NP C 36 18.0 (12.5-24.7) 4.14
(2.67-5.58) 0.24 (0.13-0.32) NP C carrier 16 9.4 (6.7-12.6) 0.16
(0.07-0.66) 0.03 (0.01-0.07) Gaucher 14 3.0 (0.5-9.7) 0.09
(0.05-0.17) 0.01 (0.01-0.10) (n = 13) (n = 13) other LSDs 114 5.3
(0.5-7.6) 0.04 (0.02-0.07) 0.01 (0.005-0.02) control 106 4.7
(2.4-6.4) 0.04 (0.02-0.06) 0.01 (0.005-0.02)
[0527] The level of free lyso-sphingomyelin in samples from said
patients depending on the classification by genetic analysis is
shown in FIG. 1.
[0528] FIG. 1 is a boxplot indicating levels of free
lyso-sphingomyelin, i.e. compound 465. The y-axis demonstrates the
logarithmised levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin in ng/ml determined
in plasma of patients by the method according to the present
invention, wherein the x-axis depicts groups of patients (dgn),
which have been grouped as described in Example 2. The boxplot
represents the 25.sup.th and 75.sup.th percentile of each group of
patients by the bottom and top of the box, respectively; the band
near the middle of the box represents the 50.sup.th percentile
(i.e. the median) of each group; The whiskers represent one
standard deviation above and below the mean of the data; Any data
not included between the whiskers is shown as an outlier with a
small circle or star.
[0529] The processed cases were as follows:
TABLE-US-00012 valid group of patients N 1.00 NP A/B 18 2.00 NP C
36 3.00 NP C carrier 16 4.00 Gaucher 14 5.00 other LSDs 114 6.00
healthy controls 106
[0530] The level of compound 509 in samples from said patients
depending on the classification by genetic analysis is shown in
FIG. 2.
[0531] FIG. 2 is a boxplot indicating levels of compound 509; the
y-axis demonstrates the logarithmised levels of compound 509 in
ng/ml determined in plasma of patients by the method according to
the present invention, wherein the x-axis depicts groups of
patients (dgn), which have been grouped as described in Example 2.
The boxplot represents the 25.sup.th and 75.sup.th percentile of
each group of patients by the bottom and top of the box,
respectively; the band near the middle of the box represents the
50.sup.th percentile (i.e. the median) of each group; The whiskers
represent one standard deviation above and below the mean of the
data; Any data not included between the whiskers is shown as an
outlier with a small circle or star.
[0532] The processed cases were as follows
TABLE-US-00013 cases valid dgn N 1.00 NP A/B 18 2.00 NP C 36 3.00
NP C carrier 16 4.00 Gaucher 13 5.00 other LSDs 114 6.00 healthy
controls 106
[0533] The ration of the level of compound 509 and the level of
free lyso-sphingomyelin in samples from said patients depending on
the classification by genetic analysis is shown in FIG. 3.
[0534] FIG. 3 is a boxplot indicating on the y-axis the ratio of
the level of compound 509 to the level of compound 465 both
determined in plasma of patients by the method according to the
present invention, wherein the x-axis depicts groups of patients
(dgn), which have been grouped as described in Example 2. The
boxplot represents the 25.sup.th and 75.sup.th percentile of each
group of patients by the bottom and top of the box, respectively;
the band near the middle of the box represents the 50.sup.th
percentile (i.e. the median) of each group; The whiskers represent
one standard deviation above and below the mean of the data; Any
data not included between the whiskers is shown as an outlier with
a small circle or star.
[0535] The processed cases were as follows:
TABLE-US-00014 cases valid dgn N 1.00 NP A/B 18 2.00 NP C 36 3.00
NP C carrier 16 4.00 Gaucher 13 5.00 other LSDs 114 6.00 healthy
controls 106
[0536] The type of mutation and the distribution of the types of
mutations of the NPC1 gene in patients classified as Niemann-Pick
disease type C patients according to the results obtained in the
genetic testing as described above are depicted in Table 2A
below.
TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 2A Distribution of mutations being detected in
Niemann-Pick disease type C patients 48 of 72 measures are valid/36
individuals (two measures per individual) cDNA n % of valid
measures c.2861C > T 5 10.4% c.3019C > G 4 8.3% c.3104C >
T 3 6.3% c.1166G > T 2 4.2% c.1990G > A 2 4.2% c.2196dupT 2
4.2% c.3245G > A 2 4.2% c.3478-6T > A 2 4.2% c.3493G > A 2
4.2% c.1112delT 1 2.1% c.1114C > T 1 2.1% c.1202C > T 1 2.1%
c.1501G > T 1 2.1% c.1535A > G 1 2.1% c.2621A > T 1 2.1%
c.2660C > T 1 2.1% c.2684dupG 1 2.1% c.2727G > A 1 2.1%
c.2795 + 1G > C 1 2.1% c.289T > A 1 2.1% c.3001A > G 1
2.1% c.58-3T > G 1 2.1% c.616_619delACTC 1 2.1%
c.749_755delAGCCCCA 1 2.1% c.1143G > C 1 2.1% c.1554-1900G >
A 1 2.1% c.2292G > A 1 2.1% c.2668T > C 1 2.1% c.2872C > T
1 2.1% c.3100G > A 1 2.1% c.3433T > C 1 2.1% c.3618delA 1
2.1% c.3662delT 1 2.1%
[0537] The type of mutation and the distribution of the types of
mutations of the SMPD1 gene in patients classified as Niemann-Pick
disease type A/B patients according to the results obtained in the
genetic testing as described above are depicted in Table 2B
below.
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 2B Distribution of mutations being detected in
Niemann-Pick disease type A/B patients 34 of 36 measures are
valid/18 individuals (two measures per individual cDNA n % of valid
measures c.1556A > G 5 14.71% c.416T > C 4 11.76% c.573delT 4
11.76% c.1267C > T 2 5.88% c.1493G > A 2 5.88% c.1502A > C
2 5.88% c.1624C > T 2 5.88% c.1718G > C 2 5.88% c.488T > C
2 5.88% c.502G > A 2 5.88% c.742G > A 2 5.88% c.776T > G 2
5.88% c.1390G > T 1 2.94% c.533T > A 1 2.94% c.1785-1786delTT
1 2.94%
Example 3
Diagnosis of Niemann-Pick Disease Using Free Lyso-Sphingomyelin
and/or Compound 509 as a Biomarker
[0538] The protocols described in Example 1 above were used to
generate HPLC-mass spectrometric chromatograms of 448 plasma
samples derived from the 304 subjects. Exemplary HPLC-mass
spectrometric chromatograms displaying peak intensity of free
lyso-sphingomyelin and IS of four Niemann-Pick disease type C
patients and one healthy control person are depicted in FIG. 8A,
FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D and FIG. 8E.
[0539] More particularly, FIG. 8A shows HPLC-mass spectrometric
chromatograms displaying peak intensity in cps of free
lyso-sphingomyelin (upper panel), compound 509 (middle panel) and
IS (lower panel) of a sample from a healthy subject as a function
over the retention time in minutes. FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D and
FIG. 8E show HPLC-mass spectrometric chromatograms displaying peak
intensity in cps of free lyso-sphingomyelin (upper panel), compound
509 (middle panel) and IS (lower panel) of a sample from a healthy
subject as a function over the retention time in minutes. The
retention time of a substance as used herein, preferably is
depicted on the x-axis and is the elapsed time between the time of
injection of a solute, e.g. a biomarker according to the present
invention and/or an internal standard, and the time of elution of
the peak maximum of said solute. A person skilled in the art will
acknowledge that the retention time of a substance according to the
herein described methods is a unique characteristic of said solute
and can be used for identification purposes. Internal Standard
working solution comprising Lyso-Gb2 as an internal standard was
added to the sample as described in Example 1. It is important to
understand that by said addition of IS to the sample, i.e. spiking
of the sample, to be subjected to the method according to the
present invention, the concentration of IS in the sample is known
and by determining the area under the peak, i.e. the peak area, of
the internal standard in said HPLC-mass spectrometric chromatogram
the relation between a peak area and a concentration of a
substance, e.g. of IS and/or a biomarker thus can be calculated.
More precisely, a person skilled in the art will acknowledge that a
peak area of a substance depicted in an HPLC-mass spectrometric
chromatogram, such as the HPLC-mass spectrometric chromatogram
depicted in FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D or FIG. 8E,
represents a measure for an amount of said substance subjected to
an HPLC-mass spectrometric analysis. Moreover, a person skilled in
the art will be able to calculate the amount of the substance in a
sample from a subject subjected to an HPLC-mass spectrometric
analysis, e.g. the amount of free lyso-sphingomyelin in a sample
subjected to the method of the present invention, using a ratio of
the peak area of free lyso-sphingomyelin, the amount of which is to
be determined by said method and the peak area of IS, e.g. free
lyso-Gb2; as well as calibration curves generated with said method
and said free lyso-sphingomyelin and/or IS. Accordingly, this
allows subsequently for determining a level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin. With regard to compound 465<lloq has been
replaced by 0.02, which refers to half of the limit of
detection
[0540] For comparing the diagnostic value of the different
biomarkers and for the calculation of correlations between the
biomarkers we first aggregated the data by using the first measured
value of every marker for every patient.
[0541] Paired sample statistical techniques were used for the
comparison of two biomarkers. The method exploits the mathematical
equivalence of the AUC to the Mann-Whitney U-statistic (Delong E.
R., Delong D. M., Clarke-Pearson D. L., 1988, Biometrics, 44,
837-45.).
[0542] The accuracy of levels of the different biomarkers (free
lyso-sphingomyelin, compound 509) obtained by the method described
in Example 1 above, as well as the accuracy of the ratio of the two
biomarkers according to the present invention, was evaluated to
discriminate patients with Niemann-Pick disease from patients
without having Niemann-Pick disease, as well as to discriminate
patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C from patients with
Niemann-Pick disease type A/B, using Receiver Operating
Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (Metz C. E., 1978, Semin Nucl
Med, 8, 283-98; Zweig M. H., Campbell G., 1993, Clin Chem, 39,
561-77).
[0543] The ROC curves were calculated using PASW Statistics 18,
Release Version 18.0.2 (.COPYRGT.SPSS, Inc., 2009, Chicago, Ill.,
www.spss.com). The comparisons of ROC curves and the linear mixed
models were done using SAS software, Version 9.2 of the SAS System
for Windows. (.COPYRGT.2008 SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.,
USA).
[0544] The results depicted in the ROC-curves shown in FIG. 4, FIG.
5 and FIG. 6 also show the specificity and the sensitivity of the
method according to the present invention depending on different
cut-off values of free lyso-sphingomyelin. The area under the curve
(AUC) and the 95% confidence limits for the free lyso-sphingomyelin
are reported in table 3.
[0545] FIGS. 4A to C are graphs showing receiver operating
characteristics (ROC) curves for the diagnosis of NP type A and B;
The x-axis represents "1-specificity" and the y-axis represents the
sensitivity.
[0546] FIG. 4 A shows ROC-curves of compound 465 and compound 509
for the diagnosis of NP type A and B wherein the test for
differences between ROC curves resulted in a p-value of 0.363. The
ROC-curve for compound 465 depicted by the solid line is reflecting
an AUC of 0.9628, whereas the ROC-curve for compound 509 depicted
by the dashed line is reflecting an AUC of 0.9916. The graph is
based on the diagnosis of 303 patients in total, wherein 18 thereof
were positively tested for having NP Typ A/B by Genetic testing as
described in Example 2 herein.
[0547] FIG. 4 B shows ROC-curves of compound 465 and the ratio of
level of compound 509 to level of compound 465 for the diagnosis of
NP type A and B, wherein the test for differences between ROC
curves resulted in a p-value of 0.0083. The ROC-curve for compound
465 depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of 0.9669,
whereas the ROC-curve for compound 509 depicted by the dashed line
is reflecting an AUC of 0.9903. The graph is based on the diagnosis
of 146 patients in total, wherein 15 thereof were positively tested
for having NP Typ A/B by Genetic testing as described in Example 2
herein.
[0548] FIG. 4 C shows ROC-curves of compound 509 and the ratio of
level of compound 509 to level of compound 465 for the diagnosis of
NP type A and B of 303 samples, wherein 18 are positive for NPC
Type A/B and wherein the Wald Test for differences between ROC
curves resulted in a p-value of p<0.0001. The ROC-curve for
compound 509 depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of
0.9916, whereas the ROC-curve for the ratio of levels of compound
509 to level of compound 465 depicted by the dashed line is
reflecting an AUC of 0.8520. The graph is based on the diagnosis of
303 patients in total, wherein 18 thereof were positively tested
for having NP Typ A/B by Genetic testing as described in Example 2
herein.
[0549] FIGS. 5A to C are graphs showing receiver operating
characteristics (ROC) curves for the diagnosis of NP type C; The
x-axis represents "1-specificity" and the y-axis represents the
sensitivity.
[0550] FIG. 5 A shows ROC-curves of compound 465 and compound 509
for the diagnosis of NP type C, wherein the test for differences
between ROC curves resulted in a p-value of 0.0003. The ROC-curve
for compound 465 depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of
0.8944, whereas the ROC-curve for compound 509 depicted by the
dashed line is reflecting an AUC of 0.9371. The graph is based on
the diagnosis of 303 patients in total, wherein 36 thereof were
positively tested for having NP type C by Genetic testing as
described in Example 2 herein.
[0551] FIG. 5 B shows ROC-curves of compound 465 and the ratio of
level of compound 509 to level of compound 465 for the diagnosis of
NP type C, wherein the test for differences between ROC curves
resulted in a p-value of 0.0001. The ROC-curve for compound 465
depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of 0.8685, whereas
the ROC-curve for the ratio of level of compound 509 to level of
compound 465 depicted by the dashed line is reflecting an AUC of
0.9654. The graph is based on the diagnosis of 303 patients in
total, wherein 36 thereof were positively tested for having NP type
C by Genetic testing as described in Example 2 herein.
[0552] FIG. 5 C shows ROC-curves of compound 509 and the ratio of
level of compound 509 to level of compound 465 for the diagnosis of
NP type C, wherein the test for differences between ROC curves
resulted in a p-value of 0.0065. The ROC-curve for compound 509
depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of 0.9371, whereas
the ROC-curve for the ratio of level of compound 509 to level of
compound 465 depicted by the dashed line is reflecting an AUC of
0.9800. The graphs are based on the diagnosis of 303 patients in
total, wherein 36 thereof were positively tested for having NP type
C by Genetic testing as described in Example 2 herein.
[0553] FIG. 6 is a graph showing receiver operating characteristics
(ROC) curves of compound 465 and of compound 509 for the diagnosis
of NP type C carrier; the graph is based on the diagnosis of 146
patients in total, wherein/thereof were positively tested for being
NP type C carriers by Genetic testing as described in Example 2
herein. The x-axis represents "1-specificity" and the y-axis
represents the sensitivity. The test for differences between ROC
curves resulted in a p-value of 0.5991. The ROC-curve for compound
465 depicted by the solid line is reflecting an AUC of 0.7468,
whereas the ROC-curve for compound 509 depicted by the dashed line
is reflecting an AUC of 0.6984.
TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 3 Sensitivity and specificity for different
biomarkers with regard to NPC 465 509 509/465 NP A/B (n) 18 of 304
18 of 303 18 of 303 Cut point >59 >5 >0.045 Sensitivity
94.4% 94.4% 94.4% Specificity 99.3% 96.1% 82.1% AUC and 95% 0.96
(0.90-1.00) 0.99 (0.98-1.00) 0.85 (0.81-0.90) CI in ROC Analysis NP
C 36 of 304 36 of 303 36 of 303 Cut point >9.23 >1.7
>0.087 Sensitivity 94.4% 97.2% 94.4% Specificity 81.3% 93.3%
95.5% AUC and 95% 0.90 (0.86-0.93) 0.94 (0.91-0.97) 0.98
(0.96-1.00) CI in ROC Analysis
[0554] Table 4 below shows accordingly the sensitivity and the
specificity of the method according to the present invention
depending on different cut-off values of free
lyso-sphingomyelin.
[0555] Comparing the level of the biomarker in a sample from a
subject determined by the method according to the present invention
to a cut-off value, preferably a cut-off valueallowing for a
diagnosis having high specificity and high sensitivity thus allows
for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in said subject, wherein an
elevated level of the biomarker in the sample from the subject
compared to the cut-off value is indicative for the subject for
suffering from or for being at risk for developing Niemann-Pick
disease and wherein a lower level of the biomarker in the sample
from the subject compared to the cut-off value is indicative for
the subject for not suffering from or for not being at risk for
developing Niemann-Pick disease.
[0556] Comparing the ratio of the levels of two biomarker in a
sample from a subject determined by the method according to the
present invention to a cut-off value, preferably a cut-off
valueallowing for a diagnosis having high specificity and high
sensitivity thus allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in said
subject, wherein an elevated the ratio of the levels of two
biomarker in the sample from the subject compared to the cut-off
value is indicative for the subject for suffering from or for being
at risk for developing Niemann-Pick disease and wherein a lower the
ratio of the levels of two biomarker in the sample from the subject
compared to the cut-off value is indicative for the subject for not
suffering from or for not being at risk for developing Niemann-Pick
disease.
[0557] Accordingly, in table 3 the sensitivity and the specificity
of free lyso-sphingomyelin as a biomarker used in a method for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease, and more particularly different
types of Niemann-Pick disease in a sample from a subject is
compared using different cut-off values. Free lyso-sphingomyelin
was determined according to the method of the present invention.
The ideal cut-off value for the respective biomarkers and disease
may be taken from table 3 above.
[0558] A person skilled in the art will acknowledge that the method
according to the present invention using free lyso-sphingomyelin
and/or compound 509 as a biomarker, and/or the ratio of the level
of compound 509 to the level of free lyso-sphingomyelin, for
diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease is clearly advantageous over
methods of the prior art.
[0559] Accordingly, levels of compound 509 determined in a sample
from a subject according to the method of the instant application
higher than 5 ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is
suffering from or is at risk for developing NP type A and B with a
sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 96.1%.
[0560] Levels of compound 509 determined in a sample from a subject
according to the method of the instant application higher than 1.7
ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is suffering from or is
at risk for developing NP type C with a Sensitivity of 97.2% and a
specificity of 93.3%.
[0561] Levels of compound 509 determined in a sample from a subject
according to the method of the instant application higher than
0.031 ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is suffering from
or is at risk for developing NP type C carrier with a sensitivity
of 100% and a specificity of 22.5%.
[0562] Levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin determined in a sample
from a subject according to the method of the instant application
higher than 59 ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is
suffering from or is at risk for developing NP type A and B with a
sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 99.3%.
[0563] Levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin determined in a sample
from a subject according to the method of the instant application
higher than 9.23 ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is
suffering from or is at risk for developing NP type C with a
sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 81.3%.
[0564] Levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin determined in a sample
from a subject according to the method of the instant application
higher than 6.5 ng/ml allow for diagnosing that the subject is
suffering from or is at risk for developing NP type C carrier with
a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 61.2%.
[0565] The ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin determined in a sample from a subject according
to the method of the instant application higher than 0.045 allow
for diagnosing that the subject is suffering from or is at risk for
developing NP type A and B with a Sensitivity of 94.4% and a
specificity of 82.1%.
[0566] The ratio of the level of compound 509 to the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin determined in a sample from a subject according
to the method of the instant application higher than 0.087 allow
for diagnosing that the subject is suffering from or is at risk for
developing NP type C with a sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity
of 95.5%.
Example 4
Analysis of Change of Biomarkers Over Time
[0567] The method and patients used in connection with this Example
were those as described in Examples 1 to 3.
[0568] For analyzing how the level of biomarkers, such as compound
509, changed over time in patients having Niemann-Pick disease non
aggregated data was analyzed for those patients for whom more than
one plasma sample was analyzed, namely six NPC type C patients and
one NPC type C carrier. A time point zero was set to the first
measure under therapy for every patient. Linear mixed models were
used for testing if time dependent reduction occurred.
[0569] The levels of compound 509 over time for individual patients
are shown in FIG. 7.
[0570] More particularly, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the levels of
compound 509 in ng/ml plasma as a function over time for a total of
6 Niemann-Pick disease type C patients and 1 Niemann-Pick disease
type C carrier.
[0571] The level of the respective biomarker was determined by the
method according to the present invention in a plasma sample from
the Niemann-Pick disease type C patients which were subjected to
therapy during the course of the study. Each curve and each patient
number, respectively, represents levels determined in plasma
collected from the same patient at different time points as
indicated on the x-axis. The x-axis represents the time points of
plasma collection, wherein time point zero indicates the first
measure under therapy for each patient. For the analysis of the
change of the level of the biomarker according to the present
invention over time in Niemann-Pick disease type C patients as
described in Example 3 non aggregated data was used for those
patients for which more than one plasma sample has been
analysed.
[0572] In FIG. 7 the y-axis represents levels of compound 509 as a
function over time.
Example 5
Analysis of Levels of Biomarkers Depending on Age of Subjects
[0573] Lysosomal storage diseases affect mostly children and they
often die at a young and unpredictable age, many within a few
months or years of birth. Many other children die of this disease
following years of suffering from various symptoms of their
particular disorder.
[0574] It is thus from particular interest to test the value of the
biomarkers of the invention for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease in groups of patients of young age.
[0575] A preferable biomarker for the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick
disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease type C, would allow for
diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease
type C, with high sensitivity and high specificity independent from
the age of the subject.
[0576] The levels of compound 465 and compound 509, respectively,
determined according to the method of the present invention were
analyzed with respect to the age of the subject.
[0577] The result is shown in Table 5 and FIG. 9.
[0578] Table 5 below shows the distribution of age among the tested
subjects.
TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 5A Distribution of age cases valid age in
years dgn N 1.00 0-10 1.00 Niemann-Pick type A/B 7 2.00
Niemann-Pick type C 10 4.00 gaucher 1 5.00 other LSD 20 6.00
control 5 2.00 11-20 1.00 Niemann-Pick type A/B 3 2.00 Niemann-Pick
type C 13 4.00 gaucher 2 5.00 other LSD 8 6.00 control 2 3.00 21-30
2.00 Niemann-Pick type C 11 5.00 other LSD 11 6.00 control 8 3.00
Niemann-Pick type C carrier 2 4.00 31-40 4.00 gaucher 1 5.00 other
LSD 12 6.00 control 16 3.00 Niemann-Pick type C carrier 2 5.00
41-50 4.00 gaucher 4 5.00 other LSD 20 6.00 control 30 3.00
Niemann-Pick type C carrier 6 6.00 51-60 1.00 Niemann-Pick type A/B
1 4.00 gaucher 3 5.00 other LSD 13 6.00 control 30 3.00
Niemann-Pick type C carrier 4 7.00 61-70 4.00 gaucher 2 5.00 other
LSD 5 6.00 control 5 8.00 71 or older 5.00 other LSD 2 6.00 control
2
[0579] More particularly, FIG. 9A is a boxplot and FIG. 9B is a
scatterplot indicating levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin, i.e.
compound 465; and FIG. 9C is a boxplot and FIG. 9D is a scatterplot
indicating levels of compound 509; The y-axis demonstrates the
logarithmised levels of free lyso-sphingomyelin and compound 509,
respectively, in ng/ml determined in plasma of patients by the
method according to the present invention, wherein the x-axis
depicts groups of patients by years of age. In boxplots the
patients have been grouped by age in years as indicated, i.e.
patients being 0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 years
old or being 71 years old and older The boxplot represents the
25.sup.th and 75.sup.th percentile of each group of patients by the
bottom and top of the box, respectively; the band near the middle
of the box represents the 50.sup.th percentile (i.e. the median) of
each group; The whiskers represent one standard deviation above and
below the mean of the data; Any data not included between the
whiskers is shown as an outlier with a small circle or star.
[0580] It may be immediately taken therefrom that compound 509 as
well as compound 465 are biomarker which allow for the diagnosis of
Niemann-Pick disease, preferably Niemann-Pick disease type A/B and
more preferably Niemann-Pick disease type C with high sensitivity
and high specificity independent from the age of the subject.
[0581] Furthermore it can be taken from that the method of the
present invention thus allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease
in a subject independent from age. More particularly, the method of
the present invention allows for diagnosing Niemann-Pick disease in
a subject, wherein the subject is a subject of young age, more
particularly of less than 30 years of age, less than 20 years of
age or less than 10 years of age.
Example 6
Free Lyso-Gb3 in Cerebellum of Transgenic Rats
[0582] The level of free lyso-sphingomyelin was determined in the
cerebellum of 3 transgene NPC1-/- rats and compared to the level in
a sample from a control animal (NPC1+/+).
[0583] The results are shown in table 6.
TABLE-US-00019 TABLE 6 Lyso-Gb3 rat animal cerebellum free lyso- id
code sex Matrix Sphingomyelin G6 1 cerebellum NPC1 -/- f P50
extract of murine tissue 11.8 G7 2 cerebellum NPC1 -/- f P50
extract of murine tissue 20.9 G8 10 NPC1 -/- f P50 extract of
murine tissue 20.1 cerebellum G9 F1 NPC1 +/+ m adult extract of
murine tissue 7.21 cerebellum
[0584] It can be taken from the above that the level of free
lyso-sphingomyelin is elevated, by approximately factor 2 to 3, in
the cerebellum in NPC1-/- animals to samples from control animals
without gene-knock-out, i.e. NPC1+/+.
[0585] In other words, in the cerebellum of NOC1- knock-out animals
free lyso-Sphingomyelin concentration is about double as high as in
wildtype controls
[0586] Said finding correlates with histopathological situation in
humans, wherein preferably the cerebellum is affected.
[0587] The features of the present invention disclosed in the
specification, the claims, the sequence listing and/or the drawings
may both separately and in any combination thereof be material for
realizing the invention in various forms thereof.
* * * * *
References